Motor and descending (efferent) pathways (red) Sensory and ascending (afferent) pathways (blue) Pyramidal tracts - Lateral cortic ospinal tract Dorsal Column Medial Lemniscus System - Anterior corticospinal tract Gracile fasciculus Cuneate fasciculus Extrapyrami dal Tracts - Rubrospinal tract - Reticulospinal tracts Spinocerebellar Tracts Posterior spinocerebellar tract Anterior spinocerebellar tract Olivospinal tract - Vestibulospinal tract Anterolateral System Lateral spinothalamic tract Anterior spinothalamic tract Spino-olivary fibers Figure 2: tracts in the white matter of the spinal cord – related information and a similar figure are in Saladin in Chapter 14 section 14.1 (6th edition) Table 2: tracts in the white matter of the spinal cord – related information and a similar table are in Saladin in Chapter 14 section 14.1 (6th edition) – yellow highlighting has no significance! Function Sensations of limb and trunk position and movement, deep touch, visceral pain, and vibration below T6 Tracts Column Decussation Gracile fasciculus posterior In medulla Cuneate fasciculus posterior In medulla Sensations of limb and trunk position and movement, deep touch, visceral pain, and vibration above T6 In spinal cord Sensations of light touch, tickle, itch, temperature, pain, & pressure Sensation of pain from tissue injury Spinothalamic lateral & anterior Spinoreticular lateral & In spinal cord anterior Feedback from muscles (proprioception) Feedback from muscles (proprioception) Posterior spinocerebellar Anterior spinocerebellar Lateral corticospinal Anterior corticospinal Tectospinal lateral none In spinal cord In medulla In spinal cord In midbrain lateral lateral Fine control of limbs anterior Fine control of limbs Reflexive head turning in response to visual and auditory stimuli Balance and posture; regulation of awareness of pain Balance and posture; regulation of awareness of pain Balance and posture Control of head position anterior Lateral reticulospinal Medial reticulospinal Lateral vestibulospinal Medial vestibulospinal lateral none anterior none anterior none anterior In medulla sacral Lumbar Thoracic Cervical Sacral Lumbar Thoracic Cervical