Tectospinal tract

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Tectospinal tract
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Diagram showing possible connection of long descending fibers from higher centers with the motor cells of the ventral column through association fibers. ("Tectospinal fasciculus" labeled at center right.)
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Diagram of the principal fasciculi of the spinal cord. ("Tectospinal fasciculus" labeled at center right, in red.)
Details
Identifiers
Latin tractus tectospinalis
MeSH D065844
NeuroLex ID birnlex_759
TA98 A14.1.02.211
A14.1.04.112
TA2 6119
FMA 72620
Anatomical terminology

In humans, the tectospinal tract (or colliculospinal tract) is a decussating extrapyramidal tract that coordinates head/neck and eye movements. [1]

Contents

It arises from the superior colliculus of the mesencephalic (midbrain) tectum, and projects to the cervical and upper thoracic spinal cord levels. [2] It mediates reflex turning of the head and upper trunk in the direction of startling sensory stimuli (visual, auditory, or skin). [2]

It arises from the deep layers of the superior colliculus. It decussates within the posterior part of mesencephalic tegmentum at the level of the red nucleus. [1] It descends through the medulla oblongata near the midline within the medial longitudinal fasciculus. [1] In the spinal cord, it descends in the anterior funiculus. [1] It terminates by synapsing with interneurons of the intermediate zone and anterior grey column. [1]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Patestas, Maria A.; Gartner, Leslie P. (2016). A textbook of neuroanatomy (Second ed.). Hoboken, New Jersey: Wiley, Blackwell. p. 233–241. ISBN   9781118677469.
  2. 1 2 Patestas, Maria A.; Gartner, Leslie P. (2016). A textbook of neuroanatomy (Second ed.). Hoboken, New Jersey: Wiley, Blackwell. pp. 109–113. ISBN   9781118677469.