10 Questions
What type of tracts are being discussed in this video?
Descending tracts
What is the primary function of the lateral corticospinal tract?
Controlling distal limb musculature
What is the location of the upper motor neurons in the corticospinal tract?
In the cerebral cortex
What is the term for the neuron located within the spinal cord in the corticospinal tract?
Lower motor neuron
What is the name of the fibers that originate from the cortex and innervate cranial nerve nuclei?
Corticonuclear fibers
What is the term for the tracts that include the rubra spinal, vestibular spinal, Ponto reticulospinal, and medullary reticulospinal tracts?
Subcortical tracts
What is the location of the cell bodies of the lower motor neurons in the corticospinal tract?
In the anterior gray horn of the spinal cord
What is the primary function of the anterior corticospinal tract?
Controlling axial musculature
What is the direction of the fibers in the corticospinal tracts?
Descending
What is the term for the neurons that originate in the cerebral cortex and send fibers down to the spinal cord?
Upper motor neurons
Study Notes
Descending Tracts
- Descending tracks are primarily discussed within the cortex in this video
- There are two types of descending tracks: cortical spinal tracts and subcortical tracts
Corticospinal Tracts
- Corticospinal tracts have two subtypes: lateral corticospinal tract and anterior/ventral corticospinal tract
- Lateral corticospinal tract is more important for controlling distal limb musculature
- Anterior/ventral corticospinal tract is more responsible for axial musculature
Corticospinal Tract Pathway
- Upper motor neurons (UMN) are located in the cerebral cortex
- UMN send fibers down through the cerebral cortex and brainstem to the spinal cord
- Fibers terminate on lower motor neurons (LMN) in the anterior/ventral gray horn of the spinal cord
- LMN innervate skeletal muscles
Upper Motor Neurons (UMN)
- UMN are located in the cerebral cortex
- UMN are responsible for transmitting signals down to the spinal cord
Lower Motor Neurons (LMN)
- LMN are located in the anterior/ventral gray horn of the spinal cord
- LMN are responsible for transmitting signals to skeletal muscles
Corticobulbar Fibers
- Corticobulbar fibers are descending fibers that go to cranial nerve nuclei
- These fibers are not corticospinal tracts, but rather corticobulbar nuclear fibers
- Corticobulbar nuclear fibers can innervate extraocular eye muscles, trapezius, tongue muscles, and others
This quiz covers the basics of descending tracks, specifically within the cortex, focusing on corticospinal tracts.
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