Spinal Cord Pathways and Reflexes

📋 Course Outline

1. Spinal cord funiculi locations and functions
2. Ascending spinal tracts and tract organization
3. Spinothalamic pathway for pain and temperature
4. Spinocervicothalamic conscious pathway
5. Motor systems and upper versus lower motor neurons
6. Descending extrapyramidal motor tracts
7. Corticospinal tract and pyramidal system
8. Spinal reflexes and reflex arc components
9. Patellar, withdrawal, panniculus and perineal reflexes

📖 1. Spinal cord funiculi locations and functions

🔑 Key Concepts & Definitions

• Funiculi : Funiculi are the spinal cord white-matter columns that divide into dorsal, lateral, and ventral regions.
• White matter tracts : White matter tracts are bundles of functionally related axons located within the spinal cord white matter.
• Ascending pathways : Ascending pathways carry sensory information from spinal cord receptors toward the brain.
• Descending pathways : Descending pathways convey motor commands from the brain to spinal cord neurons.

📝 Essential Points