Flashcards on Motor Control Pathways and Clinical Correlations
Motor Control Pathways & Clinical Correlations for Students
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Extrapyramidal tracts
9 cards
Card 1
Question: What are the main tracts included in the extrapyramidal tracts listed here?
Answer: Rubrospinal, reticulospinal, tectospinal, vestibulospinal (and interstitiospinal as part of medial systems).
Card 2
Question: What is the origin, course, termination, and primary function of the rubrospinal tract?
Answer: Origin: red nucleus (nucleus ruber) in the midbrain. Course: immediately crosses and descends in the lateral funiculus. Termination: mainly at cervica
Card 3
Question: Where does the reticulospinal tract originate, how does it descend, and what are its main functions?
Answer: Origin: reticular formation nuclei in the pons and medulla. Course: descends in the anterior and lateral funiculi. Function: regulates muscle tone and
Card 4
Question: Describe the tectospinal tract: origin, course, termination and function.
Answer: Origin: superior colliculus of the midbrain (tectum). Course: crosses and descends in the anterior funiculus. Termination: cervical spinal segments. F
Card 5
Question: What is the origin and primary role of the vestibulospinal tract?
Answer: Origin: vestibular nuclei (lateral and medial) in the pons and medulla. Course: anterior funiculus. Function: maintains balance and upright posture by
Card 6
Question: What is the interstitiospinal tract and its role?
Answer: Origin: interstitial nucleus of Cajal (midbrain). Course: part of the medial longitudinal fasciculus (MLF). Function: involved in reflexive eye–head c
Card 7
Question: How do the lateral and medial motor systems differ in termination pattern, laterality, and primary control?
Answer: Lateral motor system: terminates at lateral motor neurons of the spinal cord, primarily contralateral, and targets distal muscles (especially upper li
Card 8
Question: Which extrapyramidal tract is described as rudimentary in humans and what implication does that have?
Answer: The rubrospinal tract is rudimentary in humans; as a result, fine motor control of the fingers is managed entirely by the lateral corticospinal tract.
Card 9
Question: Which extrapyramidal tracts primarily contribute to posture, balance and gait?
Answer: Reticulospinal tract (muscle tone and automatic posture), vestibulospinal tract (balance and extensor tone), tectospinal tract (reflexive head–eye coo