Tracts
On this page 2 sections
Sensory
| Tract | Carries | First Synapse (Nucleus) | Crosses |
| Fasciculus gracilis | Lower limb fine touch, vibration, proprioception | Nucleus gracilis | Internal arcuate fibers (medulla) |
| Fasciculus cuneatus | Upper limb fine touch, vibration, proprioception | Nucleus cuneatus | Internal arcuate fibers |
| Medial lemniscus | Continuation of gracile+cuneate pathways | VPL thalamus | Already crossed |
| Spinothalamic tract | Pain and temperature | Dorsal horn | Crosses within 1–2 spinal segments |
| Spinoreticular tract | Slow pain | Reticular formation | Early |
| Spinotectal tract | Reflex head turning | Superior colliculus | Early |
| Dorsal spinocerebellar | Unconscious proprioception lower limb | Clarke's nucleus | Does not cross |
| Ventral spinocerebellar | Proprioception | Clarke/interneurons | Double crosses |
| Cuneocerebellar | Upper limb proprioception | Accessory cuneate nucleus | No crossing |
| Pathway / Tract | Main Functions | Point of Decussation (Crossing) |
| Lateral Spinothalamic | Pain and Temperature | Spinal cord level (via Anterior White Commissure) |
| Ventral (Anterior) Spinothalamic | Crude Touch and Pressure | Spinal cord level (via Anterior White Commissure) |
| Posterior Columns (DCML) | Fine touch, Vibration, Conscious Proprioception, 2-Point Discrimination | Medulla Oblongata |
| Spinocerebellar | Unconscious Proprioception | Mostly stays ipsilateral or double-crosses |
Motor
| Tract | Origin | Function |
| Corticospinal | Motor cortex | Voluntary movement |
| Corticobulbar | Motor cortex | Cranial nerve motor nuclei |
| Rubrospinal | Red nucleus | Flexor facilitation |
| Vestibulospinal | Vestibular nuclei | Balance and posture |
| Reticulospinal | Reticular formation | Muscle tone |
| Tectospinal | Superior colliculus | Reflex head movement |
| Olivospinal (questionable in humans) | Inferior olive | Minor motor role |