ASCENDING TRACTS

OBJECTIVES
1. Define a tract

2. Outline the types of tracts

3. Describe ascending tracts: function, anatomy and clinical

presentation in injury
What is a tract?
• A group of axons/fibres that have:

• Same origin

• Same destination

• Same function

• Also known as fasciculus

Types of tracts
• Generally classified as long or short and ascending or descending

• Short tracts aka spino-spinal; ascend or descend for short distances

within spinal cord.
• Include :
• Fasciculus proprius
• Septomarginal
• Interfascicularis (comma tract)
• Dorsolateral tract (of Lissauer)
Long tracts
• Have more than one relay station in their pathway

• Begin or end at a higher center than the spinal cord

• Either ascending or descending

Descending tracts
I. Pyramidal tracts
• Originating from the cortex
Corticobulbar
II. Extrapyramidal tracts
• Originating from subcortical
regions
Rubrospinal

Corticospinal Vestibulospinal
Tectospinal
Reticulospinal
Olivospinal
Ascending tracts
I. Conscious sensory II. Unconscious informative
a) Gracile and cuneate (dorsal a) Spinocerebellar
column)
b) Spinotectal
b) Lateral spinothalamic
c) Spinoreticular
c) Anterior spinothalamic
d) Spinoolivary
General considerations 1
• Conscious sensory information reaches the cerebral cortex where
sensations are felt .

• Gracile and cuneate tracts carry discriminative touch (exteroceptive),

position & movement (proprioception) and vibratory sensations.

• Painful and thermal sensations ascend in the lateral spinothalamic

tract.

• Light touch and pressure ascend in the anterior spinothalamic tract.

General considerations 2
• Unconscious information does not reach the cerebral cortex.
• Information from muscles, joints, skin and subcutaneous tissue reaches the
cerebellum via the anterior and posterior spinocerebellar tracts.
• Pain, thermal and tactile information is passed to the superior colliculus of
the midbrain through the spinotectal tract for the purpose of activating
spinovisual reflexes.
• The spinoreticular tract provides a pathway from muscles, joints and the
skin to the reticular formation (midbrain).
• The spinoolivary tract provides an indirect pathway for further information
to reach the cerebellum.
Dorsal columns
• Function: discriminative touch, vibratory and conscious muscle and
joint senses (kinesthesis).
• Fasciculus gracilis contains fibers from the lower part of the body
• Fasciculus cuneatus contains fibers from the upper trunk, neck and
upper extremities.

• Receptors: Paccinian corpuscle (vibration), Meissner's corpuscle (two

point discrimination), muscle spindle (muscle movements) and Golgi
tendon organ (position of the body).
Dorsal columns (2)
• First order neuron: Large cells in the posterior/dorsal root ganglion.

• Medial division of the posterior root enters the posterior white column of the same side

• Divide into long ascending and short descending tracts.

• Descending branches give collaterals that synapse with cells of the posterior gray horn,
inter-nuncial neurons and anterior horn cells.

• Involved with inter-segmental reflexes.

• The long ascending fibers travel upward in gracile and cuneate tracts.
Dorsal columns (3)
• Second order neuron is the gracile and cuneate nuclei of the medulla
oblongata.

• Axons of the second order neurons (the internal arcuate fibers)

sweep anteromedially around the central gray matter and decussate
(great sensory decussation).

• Fibers ascend as a single compact bundle, medial lemniscus, through

the brain stem to terminate in the third order neuron
Dorsal columns (4)
• Third order neuron is the VPLN of the thalamus from where axons go
through the posterior limb of the internal capsule and corona radiata
to end in the somatosensory area

• A number of fibers from nucleus cuneatus (posterior external arcuate

fibers) enter the cerebellum through the inferior cerebellar peduncle
of the same side-cuneocerebellar tract.

• These fibers convey information of muscle and joint senses of the

upper limb to the cerebellum
Clinical notes
• Destruction of the posterior white column cuts off the supply of
information from the muscles and joints to consciousness.
• There will be ipsilateral loss of position, movement and vibration
senses.
• The patient has ataxia: Poor coordination and unsteadiness due to
the brain's failure to regulate the body's posture and regulate the
strength and direction of limb movements.

• There is ipsilateral loss of tactile localization and two point

discrimination below the level of the lesion.
Lateral spinothalamic tract
• Function: carries pain and temperature sensation from the body.

• Receptors: free nerve endings (pain), Ruffini organ (heat) and Krause
bulb (cold) senses.

• First order neuron: are small cells in the posterior root ganglion.
Axons of PRG enter the spinal cord in the lateral division of the
posterior root to the dorsolateral tract of Lissauer.
Lateral spinothalamic tract (2)
• Second order neuron: includes the substantia gelatinosa of Rolando
(Rexed lamina II).

• Axons decussate in the anterior gray and white commissures to

ascend in the contralateral white column as the lateral spinothalamic
tract.

• Fibers cross the spinal cord obliquely and reach their tract 3 or 4
segments higher than their posterior root.
Lateral spinothalamic tract (3)
• As the tract ascends through the spinal cord, new fibers are added to
its anteromedial aspect

• Fibers carrying pain are anterior to those conducting temperature.

• The lateral spinothalamic tract ascends in the medulla and is joined

by the anterior spinothalamic to form the spinal lemniscus
Lateral spinothalamic tract (4)
• Third order neuron: is the ventral posterolateral nucleus of the
thalamus.

• Here crude pain and temperature are appreciated.

• Axons of the third order neuron pass through the posterior limb of
the internal capsule to end in the sensory area (area 3,1,2).
Anterior spinothalamic tract
• Function: carries light (crude) touch and pressure sensation.

• Receptors: Merkel's disc and Meissner's corpuscle.

• First order neuron: is PRG cells, axons of which proceed to tip of

posterior gray matter where they divide into ascending and
descending branches contributing to Lissauer's tract.
Anterior spinothalamic tract (2)
• Second order neuron: is the substantia gelatinosa.
• Axons of the second order cross very obliquely to the opposite side in
the anterior gray and white commissures and ascend in the
contralateral anterior white column as the anterior (ventral)
spinothalamic tract.
• As the tract ascends in the spinal cord new fibers are added to its
medial aspect.
• In the medulla the tract accompanies the lat.spinothalamic T and the
spinotectal T: (spinal lemniscus)
Anterior spinothalamic tract (3)
• Third order neuron is the ventral posterolateral nucleus of the
thalamus.

• Axons of the third order neuron pass through posterior limb of the
internal capsule and the corona radiata to end in the primary sensory
area.
Clinical notes
• Destruction of ant.spinothalamic T. produces contralateral deficit of
light touch and pressure.
• Bilateral destruction causes complete loss of itching, tickling and
pleasant libidinous feeling.
• Lesion of one lateral spinothalamic tract produces analgesia and
thermoanesthesia of the contralateral side of the body below the
level of the lesion.
• Visceral pain is preserved because it is more diffuse (polysynaptic)
and is bilaterally represented.
Clinical notes (2)
• Syringomyelia is central gliosis and cavitation of the spinal cord as a
result of abnormal formation of the central canal.

• It results in interruption of the lateral and anterior spinothalamic

tracts as they cross in the anterior white and gray commissures.

• The patient has segmental bilateral loss of pain and thermal senses
and some impairment of touch. As the cavitation expands, other
tracts and nerve cells become involved such as anterior horn cells and
corticospinal tracts.
Anterior spinocerebellar tract
• Function: Conveys proprioceptive information to the cerebellum
concerning muscle position and movements of the trunk and lower
limbs.

• It may transmit exteroceptive information to the cerebellum.

• Receptors: muscle spindle, tendon spindle and probably

exteroreceptors.
Anterior spinocerebellar tract (2)
• First order neuron: Cells of posterior root ganglion.

• Axons of PRG enter the gray matter as collaterals from the posterior
white column to terminate in the second order neuron which is the
spinal border nucleus .

• These are widely distributed cells at the base of the anterior gray
column in lamina VII.

• Extends from L1-S2.

Anterior spinocerebellar tract (3)
• Axons of the second order neuron cross decussate and ascend in the
contralateral white column as the anterior spinocerebellar tract.

• Fibers ascend in the brain stem and enter the cerebellum through the
superior cerebellar peduncle and terminate in the cerebellar cortex.

• It is believed that these fibers cross back into the cerebellum.

Posterior spinocerebellar tract
• Function: Conveys proprioceptive information concerning movements
of muscles of the lower limb and trunk to the cerebellum.

• The cerebellum uses this information to coordinate limb movements

and maintain posture.

• Receptors: muscle spindle and tendon spindle.

Posterior spinocerebellar tract (2)
• First order neuron is PRG. Axons of the PRG enter the posterior gray
matter as collaterals from the posterior white column
• Second order neuron is the nucleus dorsalis or Clarke's nucleus
(posterior gray matter -lamina VII)
• It extends from C8 to L3 spinal cord segments.
• Axons of Clarke's nucleus ascend without decussating to the medulla
oblongata.
• Joins inferior cerebellar peduncle and terminates in the cerebellar
cortex.
Clinical notes
• Lesion of the posterior spinocerebellar tract results in ipsilateral leg
dystaxia.

• Lesion of the ventral spinocerebellar tract results in contralateral leg

dystaxia.

• Dystaxia: lack of muscular coordination resulting in shaky limb

movements and unsteady gait
Spinotectal tract
• Function: provides information for the spinovisual reflexes and brings
about reflex movements of the head and eyes towards the source of
stimulation.

• First order neuron is the posterior root ganglion.

Spinotectal tract (2)
• Second order neuron is the main sensory nucleus (nucleus proprious-
lamina III &IV)

• Axons of the second order neuron cross to the opposite anterolateral

white column and then ascend through the brain stem to terminate in
the superior colliculus of the midbrain.
Spinoolivary tract
• Function: Conveys information to the cerebellum from proprioceptive
and cutaneous receptors.
• First order neuron is the Posterior root ganglion
• Second order neuron is the nucleus proprious.
• Axons then cross the median plane and ascend as the spinoolivary
tract found at the junction of the anterior and lateral white columns.
• Third order neuron which is the dorsal and medial accessory olivary
nuclei.
• Axons cross back the midline to enter inferior cerebellar peduncle to
terminate in the cerebellar cortex.
Spinoreticular tract
• Function: Provides afferent pathways to the reticular formation which
plays a significant role in maintenance of the state of awareness.

• Also, the lateral reticular nucleus of the medulla projects to specific

portions of the cerebellum concerned with transmission of
exteroceptive impulses to the cerebellum.
Spinoreticular tract(2)
• First order neuron is PRG.

• Axons enter the spinal cord and terminate on unknown second order
neuron in the posterior horn.

• Axons from theses cells ascend bilaterally in the lateral white column
mixed with the lateral spinothalamic tract.

• Fibers terminate by synapsing with neurons of the reticular formation

in the medulla, pons and midbrain.
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