Descending Tracts

Authors

Affiliations

Nate Yomogida, PT, DPT

Doctor of Physical Therapy

B.S. in Kinesiology

Chloë Kerstein, PT, DPT

Doctor of Physical Therapy

B.A. in Neuroscience

Spinal Cord Cross section¹

Primary Tracts

Lateral Corticospinal Tract (LCST)

Lateral Corticospinal Tract (LCST)

• Voluntary movement of extremities¹

Medial Corticospinal Tract (ACST)

Medial Corticospinal Tract (MCST)

• Voluntary movement of axial muscles¹

Medial Vestibulospinal tract

Medial vestibulospinal tract

• (positioning of head and neck)

Lateral & Medial Vestibulospinal Tracts

Lateral and medial vestibulospinal tracts work together to achieve posture and balance^{osullivanNationalPhysicalTherapy2022?}.

Lateral and medial Reticulspinal Tract

The lateral and medial reticulospinal tracts work together to perform: - Posture¹ - Balance¹ - Automatic gait related movements¹

Rubrospinal Tract

• Movement of limbs¹

References

1.

O’Sullivan SB, Schmitz TJ, Fulk GD, eds. Physical Rehabilitation. 7th ed. F.A. Davis Company; 2019.