Anatomy of Spinal Tracts

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Questions and Answers

Which type of information is conveyed by the anterior spinothalamic tract?

Crude touch and pressure

Proprioceptive information from muscles

Extremely painful sensations

Light touch and pressure (correct)

Which tracts are responsible for conveying proprioceptive information from muscles and joints?

Gracile and cuneate tracts (correct)

Anterior and posterior spinothalamic tracts

Lateral spinothalamic tract and anterior spinocerebellar tract

Medial lemniscus and posterior spinocerebellar tract

What is the function of the lateral spinothalamic tract?

Conveying painful and thermal sensations (correct)

Conveying proprioceptive information from muscles and joints

Conveying unconscious information to the cerebellum

Conveying light touch and pressure sensations

Where do unconscious proprioceptive information from muscles, joints, and skin reach?

Cerebellum Signup and view all the answers

Which tract is responsible for conveying discriminative touch sensations?

Gracile and cuneate tracts Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the spinocerebellar tracts?

Conveying unconscious information from muscles and joints to the cerebellum Signup and view all the answers

Where do second-order neurons of the lateral spinothalamic tract reside?

Cells of the substantia gelatinosa Signup and view all the answers

Which type of sensation is primarily transmitted through the anterior spinothalamic tract?

Light touch and pressure Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the anterior and posterior spinocerebellar tracts?

Conveying unconscious information from muscles and joints to the cerebellum Signup and view all the answers

Which tracts are responsible for transmitting discriminative touch, vibratory sense, and conscious muscle joint sense?

Gracilis and cuneate tracts Signup and view all the answers

Which tract is formed by the ascending fibers of the anterior spinothalamic tract, lateral spinothalamic tract, and spinotectal tract?

Spinal lemniscus Signup and view all the answers

Which nucleus is the third-order neuron for the anterior spinothalamic tract and gracilis and cuneate tracts?

Ventral posterolateral nucleus of the thalamus Signup and view all the answers

Which tract is present throughout the length of the spinal cord?

Fasciculus gracilis Signup and view all the answers

Which tract is responsible for transmitting pain and temperature sensations?

Lateral spinothalamic tract Signup and view all the answers

What is the final destination of the axons of the third-order neurons of the anterior spinothalamic tract and gracilis and cuneate tracts?

Somesthetic area in the postcentral gyrus of the cerebral cortex Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the compact bundle of fibers that forms from the ascending fibers of the gracilis and cuneate tracts?

Medial lemniscus Signup and view all the answers

Which tract conveys muscle joint information from the muscle spindles, tendon organs, and joint receptors of the trunk and the upper and lower limbs?

Anterior Spinocerebellar Tract Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the Spinotectal Tract?

Terminates by synapsing with neurons in the superior colliculus of the midbrain Signup and view all the answers

Which tract is responsible for movements of the eyes and head toward the source of stimulation?

Spinotectal Tract Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the Spinoreticular Tract?

Terminates by synapsing with neurons of the reticular formation in the medulla oblongata, pons, and midbrain Signup and view all the answers

Where do the Corticospinal Tracts originate from?

Both primary motor cortex (area 4) and secondary motor cortex (area 6) Signup and view all the answers

What is the pathway of the Corticospinal Tracts?

Through the posterior limb of the internal capsule Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic of the Corticospinal Tracts in the medulla oblongata?

They become grouped together to form a swelling known as the pyramid Signup and view all the answers

Which tract is not a part of the Descending tracts?

Spinocerebellar Tracts Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Spinocerebellar Tracts

Anterior Spinocerebellar Tract conveys muscle joint information from muscle spindles, tendon organs, and joint receptors of the trunk and upper and lower limbs.
Posterior Spinocerebellar Tract receives muscle joint information from muscle spindles, tendon organs, and joint receptors of the trunk and lower limbs.

Other Tracts

Spino-olivary Tract conveys information to the cerebellum from cutaneous and proprioceptive organs.
Spinotectal Tract terminates in the superior colliculus of the midbrain, responsible for movements of the eyes and head toward the source of stimulation.
Spinoreticular Tract terminates in the reticular formation, influencing levels of consciousness.

Descending Tracts

Divided into Pyramidal tracts (corticospinal and corticobulbar) and Extrapyramidal tracts (reticulospinal, tectospinal, rubrospinal, vestibulospinal, and olivospinal).
Corticospinal Tracts originate from the primary motor cortex and secondary motor cortex, passing through the posterior limb of the internal capsule.

Anterior Spinothalamic Tract

Conveys light touch and pressure pathways from the posterior root ganglion of the spinal nerve.
Second-order neurons are cells of the substantia gelatinosa.
Third-order neurons are cells of the ventral posterolateral nucleus of the thalamus, terminating in the postcentral gyrus of the cerebral cortex.

Gracilis and Cuneate Tracts

Convey discriminative touch, vibratory sense, and conscious muscle joint sense pathways.
First-order neurons are the posterior root ganglion of the spinal nerve.
Second-order neurons are in the nuclei gracilis and cuneatus of the medulla oblongata.
Third-order neurons are in the ventral posterolateral nucleus of the thalamus, terminating in the postcentral gyrus of the cerebral cortex.

White Matter

Divided into anterior, lateral, and posterior white columns or funiculi.

Ascending Tracts

Conduct afferent information, divided into exteroceptive information (pain, temperature, touch) and proprioceptive information (muscles and joints).
Lateral Spinothalamic Tract conducts pain and temperature pathways.
Anterior Spinothalamic Tract conducts light touch and pressure pathways.
Gracile and Cuneate Tracts conduct discriminative touch, vibratory sense, and conscious muscle joint sense pathways.

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Description

Learn about the different spinal tracts, including anterior and posterior spinocerebellar tracts, and their functions in conveying muscle joint information.