Ascending And Descending Tracts Of Spinal Cord Ppt May 2026

Slide 1: Title Slide

Title: Ascending and Descending Tracts of the Spinal Cord Subtitle: Functional Anatomy and Clinical Significance Presenter Name: [Your Name] Date: [Date]

Title Slide

• Title: Ascending & Descending Tracts of the Spinal Cord
• Subtitle: Sensory Pathways to the Brain & Motor Pathways from the Brain
• Your Name / Course / Date
• Image: A simple cross-section of the spinal cord showing white matter (tracts) and gray matter (horns).

Slide 20: The Classic – Brown-Séquard Syndrome (Hemisection of Cord)

• Cause: Penetrating trauma, extramedullary tumor.
• Findings (Ipsilateral below lesion):
  • UMN weakness (corticospinal)
  • Loss of vibration/proprioception (DCML)
• Findings (Contralateral below lesion):
  • Loss of pain/temperature (spinothalamic – 1-2 segments below)
• Visual Suggestion: A split cross-section – red on one side, blue on the other, with arrows showing deficits.

Slide 10: Extrapyramidal Tracts

Title: Extrapyramidal Tracts Content:

• Function: Maintain posture, balance, and muscle tone.
• Key Tracts:
  • Rubrospinal Tract: Motor coordination (facilitates flexors).
  • Vestibulospinal Tract: Balance and posture (facilitates extensors).
  • Reticulospinal Tract: Modulates pain and controls autonomic functions.
  • Tectospinal Tract: Reflex head movements in response to visual/auditory stimuli.
• Note: These are indirect pathways involving basal ganglia and brainstem nuclei.

Part 2: Ascending (Sensory) Tracts – The "Input" Highways (Slides 6-12)