FUNCTIONS OF THE DESCENDING TRACTS
- Corticospinal tracts
- Voluntary, discrete, skilled movements,
especially those of the distal parts of the limbs
- Reticulospinal tracts
- Facilitate or inhibit the activity of the alpha
and gamma motor neurons
- Facilitate or inhibit voluntary movement
or reflex activity
- Tectospinal tract
- Reflex postural movements in response
to visual stimuli
- Rubrospinal tract
- Acts on both the alpha and gamma motor neurons
in the anterior gray columns
- Facilitates the activity of flexor muscles
and inhibits the activity of extensor or antigravity
muscles
- Vestibulospinal tract
- Acting on the motor neurons in
the anterior gray columns
- Facilitates the activity of the extensor muscles,
inhibits the activity of the flexor muscles
- Postural activity associated with
balance
- Olivospinal tract
- May play a role in muscular activity,
but there is doubt that it exists
- Descending autonomic fibers
- Control of visceral activity