Motor Pathways

Question 1

Name the three types of motor pathways and their associated tracts.

Answer 1

1. Corticospinal Pathway (corticobulbar/Anterior/Lateral) 2. Medial Pathways (vestibulospinal/tectospinal/reticulospinal) 3. Lateral (rubrospinal)

Question 2

What are the three corticospinal pathways and their associated functions.

Answer 2

1. Corticobulbar Tract: conscious control of the face and neck 2. Lateral Tract: voluntary control of skeletal muscle on the opposite side (85%) 3. Anterior Corticospinal: voluntary control of skeletal muscle on the same side (15%)

Question 3

Name some facts about the medial pathway

Answer 3

Responds to subconscious processing, controls movement of trunk and proximal limbs

Question 4

Describe the vestibulospinal tract.

Answer 4

Part of the medial pathway, regulates the involuntary control of posture and muscle tone. originates in the lateral vestibular nucleus in the pons, ipsilateral descent of synapse

Question 5

Describe the tectospinal tract.

Answer 5

Part of the medial pathway, controls the involuntary regulation of the eye, head, neck, and position in response to visual and auditory stimuli, originates in the superior colliculus of the midbrain, immediately decussates, synapses in the lower cervical cord.

Question 6

Describe the reticulospinal tract.

Answer 6

Part of the medial pathway, controls involuntary regulation of the reflex activity and autonomic function, originates in the medulla and pons, billateral innervation

Question 7

Describe the rubrospinal pathway.

Answer 7

Part of the lateral pathway, controls muscle tone and movements of DISTAL muscles of the upper limbs, originates in the red nucleus, decussates immediately, descends to the cervical cord

Question 8

What are the four subconscious motor pathways?

Answer 8

Tectospinal , Reticulospinal, Vestibulospinal, Rubrospinal

Question 9

Deep tendon reflexes: biceps, brachioradialis, triceps, knee, & ankle

Answer 9

Biceps: C5, C6; Brachioradialis: C5, C6; trcieps, C7; Knee, L3, L4; Ankle, S1, S2

Question 10

Dorsal Columns

Answer 10

Sensory, joint position sense and 2-point discrimination, crosses in medula, legs are medial

Question 11

Anterior Spinal artery syndrome

Answer 11

Affects spinothalamic and corticospinal tracts - does not hit dorsal column and therefore the patient still has intact proprioception