Ascending &

Descending nerve tracts

Sanjaya Adikari
Department of Anatomy

Control of the body by the brain

L

Contralateral representation
Decussation = Crossing
R

Contralateral = Opposite side

Ipsilateral = Same side

Sensory

Medulla

Sensory organs

Sensory

Medulla

Sensory organs

Motor

Medulla

Effecter organs

Motor

Medulla

Effecter organs

R
Medulla

Sensory organs

Effecter organs

Third order neuron

Internal capsule
Thalamus

Corona radiata
Medulla

Ascending tracts

Second order neuron

First order neuron

Internal capsule

Sensory

Medulla

Upper
medulla

Posterior surface

Internal capsule

Motor

Descending
tracts

Lower
medulla

Upper motor neuron

Anterior surface

Lower motor neuron

(Final common pathway)

Internal capsule

20%

Internal capsule

Cranial nerves

Corticobulbar

Corticospinal
Spinal nerves

Ascending tracts

Left

White columns
Posterior white column
Posterior nerve root

Lateral white column

Anterior nerve root

Anterior white column

Pain & temperature

Lateral
spinothalamic

Crude touch & pressure

Anterior
spinothalamic

Third order neuron

Internal capsule
Thalamus

Medulla

Second order neuron

First order neuron

10

10
Pain &
temperature

Crosses within one spinal

segment

Crude touch &

pressure

Crosses within several spinal

segments

Fine touch, vibration,

Conscious muscle & joint sense

Fasciculus gracilis
Fasciculus cuneatus

Internal capsule

Medulla

Muscle & joint sense to cerebellum

Anterior &
posterior
spinocerebellar

Superior, middle & inferior

cerebellar peduncles

Left

Descending tracts

Lateral corticospinal
Olivospinal
Rubrospinal
Vestibulospinal
Anterior corticospinal
Tectospinal

Left

Clinical Neuroanatomy by Richard S. Snell

Lemniscus
This term is used for some ascending
(sensory) nerve tracts in the upper part of
the medulla, pons and midbrain
Spinal lemniscus
combination of spinothalamic, spinotectal
tracts
Medial lemniscus
crossed posterior column fibers
Lateral lemniscus
3rd neuron of auditory pathway

sensory

motor

1 All sensory and motor loss on contralateral side

2 Fine touch and vibration loss on the ipsilateral side, pain and temperature and
motor weakness on the contralateral side
3 - Fine touch and vibration and motor weakness on the ipsilateral side, pain and
temperature loss on the contralateral side (Brown-Sequard)

Thalamic
Mid-braintem

Unilateral cord lesion

(Brown-Sequard)

Weakness
(UMN)

Clinical Medicine by Kumar & Clearks

Spinal cord lesions

C
D

A
B

Refer Clinical Medicine by Kumar & Clearks

A Syringomyelia

A Syringomyelia
Loss of pain and
temperature sense
without loss of fine touch.
Discontinuous sensory
loss
Loss of upper limb reflexes
Symptoms progress when
Clinical Medicine by Kumar & Clearks

the cavity enlarges

B Poliomyelitis

C Tabes dorsalis
Demyelination

C Tabes dorsalis

(of neurosyphilis)

Demyelination of dorsal roots

Lightening pains, sensory ataxia,
reflex and sensory loss, muscle
wasting, charcot joints
Argyll Robertson pupils

Sensory ataxia of tabes dorsalis

This is due to loss of proprioception
(position sense)
- stamping gait
- positive Rombergs test

Argyll Robertson pupils

No reaction to light. Constricts to
convergence
Lesion in the cerebral aqueduct

Anterior spinal artery

occlusion
Bilateral loss of motor
function due to damage
to corticospinal tracts
and anterior gray horns
Bilateral
thermoanesthesia and
analgesia due to
damage to
spinothalamic tracts
Loss of bladder and
bowel control due to
damage to descending
autonomic tracts
Vibration, fine touch &
position sense normal

Refer Clinical Medicine by Kumar & Clearks