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Robotic Spine Universe

Structures · Tracts (white matter)

Ventral reticulospinal tract

A bundle of axons in the cord's white matter, part of the reticulospinal tracts.

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At a glance

Source of the outline
A region of the PAM50 white-matter atlas, drawn at each segment levelLévy et al. 2015; De Leener et al. 2018
Levels with this region in the atlas sections
C1 to L2 (22 levels)
Pathway
Reticulospinal tracts: posture, muscle tone and autonomic influence

Cross-section at T10

left fasciculus gracilisright fasciculus gracilisleft fasciculus cuneatusright fasciculus cuneatusleft lateral corticospinal tractright lateral corticospinal tractleft ventral spinocerebellar tractright ventral spinocerebellar tractleft rubrospinal tractright rubrospinal tractleft spinal lemniscusright spinal lemniscusleft spino-olivary tractright spino-olivary tractleft ventrolateral reticulospinal tractright ventrolateral reticulospinal tractleft lateral vestibulospinal tractright lateral vestibulospinal tractleft ventral reticulospinal tractright ventral reticulospinal tractleft ventral corticospinal tractright ventral corticospinal tractleft tectospinal tractright tectospinal tractleft medial reticulospinal tractright medial reticulospinal tractleft medial longitudinal fasciculusright medial longitudinal fasciculusleft ventral hornright ventral hornleft intermediate zoneright intermediate zoneleft dorsal hornright dorsal hornAnteriorPosteriorLR
  • Ascending (sensory)
  • Corticospinal (motor)
  • Other descending
  • Grey matter
Regions in this section (text list)
  • left fasciculus gracilis (spared)
  • right fasciculus gracilis (spared)
  • left fasciculus cuneatus (spared)
  • right fasciculus cuneatus (spared)
  • left lateral corticospinal tract (spared)
  • right lateral corticospinal tract (spared)
  • left ventral spinocerebellar tract (spared)
  • right ventral spinocerebellar tract (spared)
  • left rubrospinal tract (spared)
  • right rubrospinal tract (spared)
  • left spinal lemniscus (spared)
  • right spinal lemniscus (spared)
  • left spino-olivary tract (spared)
  • right spino-olivary tract (spared)
  • left ventrolateral reticulospinal tract (spared)
  • right ventrolateral reticulospinal tract (spared)
  • left lateral vestibulospinal tract (spared)
  • right lateral vestibulospinal tract (spared)
  • left ventral reticulospinal tract (focus)
  • right ventral reticulospinal tract (focus)
  • left ventral corticospinal tract (spared)
  • right ventral corticospinal tract (spared)
  • left tectospinal tract (spared)
  • right tectospinal tract (spared)
  • left medial reticulospinal tract (spared)
  • right medial reticulospinal tract (spared)
  • left medial longitudinal fasciculus (spared)
  • right medial longitudinal fasciculus (spared)
  • left ventral horn (spared)
  • right ventral horn (spared)
  • left intermediate zone (spared)
  • right intermediate zone (spared)
  • left dorsal horn (spared)
  • right dorsal horn (spared)

Highlighted: this region of the white-matter atlas, both sides. Outline from the PAM50 template and atlas, cut at the segment midpoint. De Leener et al. 2018; Lévy et al. 2015

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What the sources say

“The reticulospinal tract connects the reticular system, a diffuse region of gray matter in the brain stem, with the spinal cord.” Betts et al. 2022, §14.3
“The reticulospinal tract also contributes to muscle tone and influences autonomic functions.” Betts et al. 2022, §14.3

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  • Descending motor tracts

    The tracts that carry movement commands down the cord. The corticospinal tract for voluntary movement, and the extrapyramidal tracts from the brainstem for posture, balance, tone and corrections.

For learning only. Levels and sizes vary between people; nothing here describes a particular person or gives medical advice. Sources: Betts et al. 2022, §14.3; Lévy et al. 2015; De Leener et al. 2018.