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Ascending Spinal Tracts: Dr. Joachim Perera Joachim - Perera@imu - Edu.my

The ascending spinal tracts are pathways that carry sensory information from the spinal cord to the brain. There are four main tracts: the spinothalamic tracts (anterior and lateral) for pain, temperature, touch and pressure; the dorsal column tract for deep touch, vibration and proprioception; and the spinocerebellar tracts (anterior and posterior) for posture and coordination. The tracts ascend through the brainstem and terminate in various nuclei before third order neurons carry the sensory information to the sensory cortex. Lesions of these tracts result in dissociated sensory losses depending on the region and tract affected.

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Zobayer Ahmed
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211 views26 pages

Ascending Spinal Tracts: Dr. Joachim Perera Joachim - Perera@imu - Edu.my

The ascending spinal tracts are pathways that carry sensory information from the spinal cord to the brain. There are four main tracts: the spinothalamic tracts (anterior and lateral) for pain, temperature, touch and pressure; the dorsal column tract for deep touch, vibration and proprioception; and the spinocerebellar tracts (anterior and posterior) for posture and coordination. The tracts ascend through the brainstem and terminate in various nuclei before third order neurons carry the sensory information to the sensory cortex. Lesions of these tracts result in dissociated sensory losses depending on the region and tract affected.

Uploaded by

Zobayer Ahmed
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Ascending spinal tracts

Dr. Joachim Perera


joachim_perera@imu.edu.my
Learning outcomes

1. Describe the anatomy of the ascending spinal tracts


2. Describe the arrangement of the ascending spinal tracts
in different regions of the CNS
3. Explain the anatomical basis for neurological features in
lesions involving the ascending tracts
Ascending spinal tracts
 Lateral Spinothalamic tract ( pain & temperature)
 Anterior spinothalamic tract ( light touch and pressure)
 Dorsal column tract ( deep touch & pressure,
proprioception, vibration sensation, joint sensation &
position sensation )
 Anterior spinocerebellar tract ( Posture and coordination)
 Posterior spinocerebellar tract ( Posture and coordination)

All ascending spinal tracts are associated with


sensory functions of the body
Spinothalamic tracts ( anterior & lateral)

First order neurons synapse at


substantia gelatinosa
Second order neurons cross to
opposite side and ascend
Pain & temperature fibers enter lateral spinothalamic tract
Light touch & pressure fibers enter anterior spinothalamic
tract
Spinal lemniscus

Tracts ascend through the medulla


oblongata, pons and midbrain as
the spinal lemniscus
In medulla oblongata, pons and
midbrain, ascending fibers are in
the spinal lemniscus
Thalamus

VPL

Ascending second order neurons end


in the ventral posterolateral nucleus of
the thalamus
Thalamus

Third order neurons arise from the


thalamus and pass through the
internal capsule
Thalamocortical
fibers

Thalamocortical fibers pass


through the posterior limb of the
internal capsule to the sensory
cortex of the cerebrum
Sensory cortex lies behind the
central sulcus
More sensitive areas in the body
have a greater representation

Homunculus arrangement
Dorsal column tracts

First order neuron enter the dorsal


column of the same side and
ascend to the medulla oblongata
First order neurons end in the
gracile nucleus and cuneate
nucleus of the medulla oblongata.
Second order neurons start there
Second order neurons cross to the
opposite side and ascend through
the brain stem as the medial
lemniscus
Medial lemniscus

Medial lemniscus
Thalamus

Ascending second order neurons end


in the ventral posterolateral nucleus of
the thalamus
Thalamocortical
fibers

Thalamocortical fibers pass


through the posterior limb of the
internal capsule to the sensory
cortex of the cerebrum
Third order neurons terminate in
the sensory cortex
In a lesion of one half of the spinal cord may lead to
• Loss of pain, temperature, light touch & pressure
sensations of the opposite side of the body
• Loss of the other sensations of same side of the body
Sensory cortex of the
cerebral hemisphere
controls the opposite side
of the body.( contra lateral
side)
 In lesions above the
sensory crossing – all the
sensations of the opposite
side of the body are lost
 In lesions below the
sensory crossing – pain,
temperature, light touch
and pressure of the
opposite side and other
sensations of the same
side are lost
In a lesion of one tract, only sensation carried by that tract
is affected. Other sensations are spared ( Dissocated
sensory loss)
Eg. Syringomyelia and dorsal column lesions
Spinocerebellar tract

First order neurons end in the


Clarke’s column of the posterior
grey horn
Second order neurons arising from
the Clark’s column ascend in the
spinocrebellar tracts
Superior cerebellar
peduncle

Midbrain
Inferior cerebellar
peduncle
Medulla
Posterior spinocerebellar
tract

Spinal cord

Anterior spinocerebellar
tract
What did you learn……..

 Anatomy of the ascending spinal tracts


 Arrangement of the ascending spinal tracts at different
regions of the CNS
 Anatomical basis for the neurological features in lesions
involving the ascending tracts

Thank you

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