Sensory & Motor Pathways

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• There is a continuous flow of information between
the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves.
• This information is relayed by sensory
(ascending) and motor (descending)
‘pathways’.
• Generally the pathways:
• Consists of a chain of tracts, associated nuclei
and varying number of relays (synapses)
• Consist of two or three neurons
• Exhibit somatotopy (precise spatial
relationships)
• Decussate
• Involve both the brain and spinal cord
• Are paired (bilaterally and symmetrically)
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 Sensory Pathways
• Monitor conditions both inside the body and in the
external environment
• Sensation-stimulated receptor passes information to the
CNS via afferent (sensory) fibers

• Most sensory information is processed in the spinal cord,

thalamus, or brain stem.
• Only 1% reaches the cerebral cortex and our conscious
awareness

• Processing in the spinal cord can produce a rapid motor

response (stretch reflex)

• Processing within the brain stem may result in complex

motor activities (positional changes in the eye, head,
trunk)
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 Sensory Pathways
• Contain a sequence of THREE
neurons from the receptor to
the cerebral cortex
• First order neuron: Sensory
neuron that delivers
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information from the receptor
to the CNS.
• Cell body located in the dorsal
root ganglion.
• The Axon (central process)
passes to the spinal cord 2
through the dorsal root of
spinal nerve gives many
collaterals which take part in 1
spinal cord reflexes runs
ipsilaterally and synapses with
second-order neurons in the
cord and medulla oblongata
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• Second order neuron:
– Has cell body in the
spinal cord or
medulla oblongata
– Axon decussate &
– Terminate on 3rd
order neuron

• Third order neuron:

– Has cell body in
thalamus
– Axon terminates on
cerebral cortex
ipsilaterally

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 Tracts of the Spinal Cord

• Tracts that serve to join brain to the

spinal cord
– Ascending
– Descending
• Fibers that interconnect adjacent or
distant segments of the spinal cord
– Intersegmental (propriospinal)

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 Ascending Spinal Tracts
Transmit impulses:
• Concerned with specific sensory
modalities: pain, temperature, touch,
proprioception, that reach a conscious
level (cerebral cortex)
– Dorsal column Medial Lemunscus
– Spinothalmic tracts /Anterolateral/
• From tactile and stretch receptors to
subconscious centers (cerebellum)
– Spinocerebellar tracts

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• Three major pathways carry sensory
information
Posterior column pathway (gracile &
cuneate fasciculi)
Anterolateral pathway (spinothalamic)
Spinocerebellar pathway

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 Ascending Spinal Tracts
• Dorsal white column
• Lateral spinothalamic
• Anterior spinothalamic
• Anterior
spinocerebellar
• Posterior
spinocerebellar
• Cuneocerebellar
• Spinotectal
• Spinoreticulr
• Spino-olivary

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 Dorsal Column
• Contains two tracts, Fasciculus
gracilis (FG) & fasciculus
cuneatus (FC)
• Carry impulses concerned with
proprioception and
discriminative touch from
ipsilateral side of body
• Contain the axons of primary
afferent neurons that have
entered cord through dorsal
roots of spinal nerves
FG contains fibers received at sacral, lumbar and
lower thoracic levels, FC contains fibers received at
upper thoracic and cervical levels
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• Fibers ascend without
interruption where they
terminate upon 2nd order
neurons in nucleus gracilis
and nucleus cuneatus

• The axons of the 2nd order

neurons decussate in the
medulla as internal arcuate
fibers and ascend through
the brain stem as medial
lemniscus.

• The medial lemniscus

terminates in the ventral
posterior nucleus of the
thalamus upon 3rd order
neurons, which project to
the somatosensory cortex
(thalamocortical fibers)
• 11
12
 Spinothalamic Tracts
• Located lateral and ventral
to the ventral horn
• Carry impulses concerned
with pain and thermal
sensations (lateral tract)
and also non-
discriminative touch and
pressure (medial tract)
• Fibers of the two tracts are
intermingled to some
extent
• In brain stem, constitute
the spinal lemniscus
• Fibers are somato-topically Information is sent to
arranged, with those for
the lower limb lying most the primary sensory
superficially and those for cortex on the opposite
the upper limb lying
deeply side of the body
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 Lateral Spinothalamic Tract
• Carries impulses concerned
with pain and thermal
sensations.
• Axons of 1st order neurons
terminate in the dorsal horn
• Axons of 2nd order neuron
(mostly in the nucleus
proprius), decussate within
one segment of their origin,
by passing through the
ventral white commissure &
terminate on 3rd order
neurons in ventral posterior
nucleus of the thalamus
• Thalamic neurons project to
the somatosensory cortex
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 Anterior Spinothalamic Tract
• Carries impulses
concerned with non-
discriminative touch and
pressure
• Axons of 1st order neurons
enter cord terminate in the
dorsal horn
• Axons of 2nd order neuron
may ascend several
segments before crossing
to opposite side by passing
through the ventral white
commissure & terminate
on 3rd order neurons in
ventral posterior nucleus of
the thalamus
• Thalamic neurons project
to the somatosensory 15
cortex
Spino-reticulo-thalamic System
• The system represents an additional route by
which dull, aching pain is transmitted to a
conscious level
• Some 2nd order neurons terminate in the reticular
formation of the brain stem, mainly within the
medulla
• Reticulothalamic fibers ascend to intralaminar
nuclei of thalamus, which in turn activate the
cerebral cortex

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 Spinocerebellar Tracts
• The spinocerebellar system
consists of a sequence of
only two neurons
• Two tracts: Posterior &
Anterior
• Located near the
dorsolateral and
ventrolateral surfaces of
the cord
• Contain axons of the
second order neurons
• Carry information derived
from muscle spindles, Golgi
tendon organs and tectile
receptors to the
cerebellum for the control
of posture and coordination
of movements
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 Posterior Spinocerebellar Tracts
• Present only above
level L3
• The cell bodies of 2nd
order neuron lie in
Clark’s column
• Axons of 2nd order
neuron terminate
ipsilaterally (uncrossed)
in the cerebellar cortex
by entering through the
inferior cerebellar
peduncle

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 Ventral Spinocerebellar Tracts
• The cell bodies of 2nd order
neuron lie in base of the dorsal
horn of the lumbosacral
segments
• Axons of 2nd order neuron cross
to opposite side, ascend as far
as the midbrain, and then make
a sharp turn caudally and enter
the superior cerebellar peduncle
• The fibers cross the midline for
a second time within the
cerebellum before terminating
in the cerebellar cortex
 Both spinocerebellar tracts
convey sensory information to
the same side of the cerebellum 19
 Spinotectal Tract
• Ascends in the anterolateral
part in close association
with spinothalamic system
• Primary afferents reach
dorsal horn through dorsal
roots and terminate on 2nd
order neurons
• The cell bodies of 2nd order
neuron lie in base of the
dorsal horn
• Axons of 2nd order neuron
cross to opposite side, and
project to the
periaquiductal gray matter
and superior colliculus in
the midbrain 20
 Spino - olivary Tract

• Indirect spinocerebellar pathway

(spino-olivo-cerebellar)
• Impulses from the spinal cord are
relayed to the cerebellum via
inferior olivary nucleus
• Conveys sensory information to the
cerebellum
• Fibers arise at all level of the spinal
cord
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 Spinoreticular Tract
• Originates in laminae
IV-VIII
• Contains uncrossed
fibers that end in
medullary reticular
formation & in
pontine reticular
formation
• Form part of the
ascending reticular
activating system
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Motor Pathways

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 Motor Pathways
• CNS issues motor commands in response to
information provided by sensory systems,
sent by the somatic nervous system (SNS)
and the autonomic nervous system (ANS)
• Conscious and subconscious motor commands
control skeletal muscles by traveling over
integrated motor pathways
• The corticospinal pathway – voluntary control
of motor activity
– Corticobulbar tracts
– Corticospinal tracts
• The medial and lateral pathways – modify or
direct skeletal muscle contractions by
stimulating, facilitating, or inhibiting lower
motor neurons 24
 Motor Pathways
• Contain a sequence of
TWO neurons from the UMN
cerebral cortex or brain
stem to the muscles
• Upper motor neuron : has
cell body in the cerebral
cortex or brain stem, axon
decussates before
terminating on the lower
motor neuron
• Lower motor neuron: has
cell body in the ventral
horn of the spinal cord,
axon runs in the ipsilateral
ventral root of the spinal
nerve and supply the LMN
muscle.
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 Descending Spinal Tracts

• Originate from the cerebral cortex &

brain stem
• Concerned with:
 Control of movements
 Muscle tone
 Spinal reflexes & equilibrium
 Modulation of sensory transmission
to higher centers
 Spinal autonomic functions

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• The motor pathways
are divided into two
groups
– Direct pathways
(voluntary motion
pathways) - the
pyramidal tracts
– Indirect pathways
(postural pathways),
essentially all others
- the extrapyramidal
pathways

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 Direct (Pyramidal) System

• Regulates fast and fine (skilled) movements

• Originate in the pyramidal neurons in the
precentral gyri,
• Impulses are sent through the corticospinal
tracts and synapse in the anterior horn
• Stimulation of anterior horn neurons
activates skeletal muscles
• Part of the direct pathway, called
corticobulbar tracts, innervates cranial
nerve nuclei

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 Indirect (Extrapyramidal) System

• Complex and multisynaptic pathways

• The system includes:
• Rubrospinal tracts: control flexor muscles
• Vestibulospinal tracts: maintain balance
and posture
• Tectospinal tracts: mediate head neck,
and eye movement
• Reticulospinal tracts

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 Descending Spinal Tracts
• Pyramidal
– Corticospinal
• Extrapyramidal
– Rubrospinal
– Tectospinal
– Vestibulospinal
– Olivospinal
– Reticulospinal
• Descending
Autonomic Fibers

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 Corticospinal Tracts
• Concerned with
voluntary, discrete,
skilled movements,
especially those of
distal parts of the
limbs (fractionated
movements)
• Innervate the
contralateral side of
the spinal cord
• Provide rapid direct
method for controlling
skeletal muscle

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• Origin: motor and sensory
cortices
• Axons pass through corona
radiata, internal capsule,
crus cerebri and pyramid
of medulla oblongata
• In the caudal medulla
about 75-90% of the fibers
decussate and form the
lateral corticospinal
tract
• Rest of the fibers remain
ipsilateral and form
anterior corticospinal
tract. They also decussate
before termination

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• Distribution:
– 55% terminate at
cervical region
– 20% at thoracic
– 25% at lumbosacral
level
• Termination: Ventral
horn neurons (mostly
through interneurons, a
few fibers terminate
directly)
• Corticobulbar tracts
end at the motor nuclei
of CNs of the
contralateral side
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 Rubrospinal Tract
• Controls the tone of limb
flexor muscles, being
excitatory to motor
neurons of these muscles
• Origin: Red nucleus
• Axons course ventro-
medially, cross in ventral
tegmental decussation,
descend in spinal cord
ventral to the lateral
corticospinal tract
• Cortico-rubro-spinal
pathway
(Extrapyramidal)
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 Tectospinal Tract
• Mediates reflex movements
of the head and neck in
response to visual stimuli
• Origin: Superior colliculus
• Axons course ventro-
medially around the
periaqueductal gray matter,
cross in dorsal tegmental
decussation, descend in
spinal cord, terminate
mainly in cervical segments
• Cortico-tecto-spinal pathway
(Extrapyramidal)

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 Vestibulospinal Tracts
• Lateral Vestibulospinal
Tracts
• Origin: lateral vestibular
(Deiter’s) nucleus
• Axons descend ipsilaterally
in the ventral funiculus
• Terminate on ventral horn
cells throughout the length
of spinal cord
• Has excitatory influences
upon extensor motor
neurons, control extensor
muscle tone in the
antigravity maintenance of
posture 36
 Vestibulospinal Tracts
• Medial vestibulospinal
tract
• Origin: medial vestibular
nucleus
• Axons descend bilaterally in
the ventral funiculus, with
the medial longitudinal
fasciculus
• Most of the fibers end in the
cervical region, some
reaching upper thoracic
segments
• Involved in movements of
the head required for
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maintaining equilibrium
 Reticulospinal Tracts
• Influence voluntary movement,
reflex activity and muscle tone
by controlling the activity of
both alpha and gamma motor
neurons
• Mediate pressor and depressor
effect on the circulatory
system
• Are involved in control of
breathing
• Origin: pontine & medullary
reticular formation
• Medial (pontine) reticulospinal
tract descends ipsilaterally
• Lateral (medullary)
reticulospinal tract descends
bilaterally
• Both tracts located in the 38
 Descending Autonomic Fibers
• The higher centers
associated with the control
of autonomic activity are
situated mainly in the
hypothalmaus
• The fibers run in the
reticulospinal tracts
• Terminate on the
autonomic neurons in the
lateral horn of thoracic &
upper lumbar
(sympathetic) and sacral
segments
(parasympathetic) levels of
the spinal cord 39