The document discusses various extrapyramidal tracts in the brain and spinal cord that help control motor function. It describes the rubrospinal, reticulospinal, olivospinal, tectospinal, and vestibulospinal tracts, including their origins, pathways, and functions. Common extrapyramidal disorders like Parkinson's disease, chorea, hemiballism, athetosis, dystonia, and tardive dyskinesia are also briefly outlined.

1. EXTRAPYRAMIDAL TRACTS BY:- DR. PRIYANKA GUPTA (B.P.T)

3. DEFINATION Extrapyramidal tracts are those motor pathways which may act as the alternative route for volitional impulses and which form the platform on which pyramidal system works skillfully Integrated at various level from cerebral cortex to spinal cord Cortical region controlling these tracts are area 8 and 6

4. TYPES RUBROSPINAL TRACT RETICULOSPINAL TRACT OLIVOSPINAL TRACT VESTIBULOSPINAL TRACT TECTOSPINAL TRACT OR TECTOBULBAR TRACT

5. Function of extrapyramidal tract Cortinuclear fibre control movt of eyeball Other tract responsible for tone, posture(R.S. TRACT), visospinal reflex(T.S TRACT),equilibrium(V.S. TRACT) Control complex movt( co-ordinated movt) Exerts tonic inhibitory control over lower centers Carry volitional impulse when pyramidal tract damge

6. 1.RUBROSPINAL TRACT

7. mid brain pons medulla

8. RED NUCLEUS The red nucleus is a prominent structure within the rostral midbrain and lies just dorsal to the substantia nigra. It appears to have a high iron content and is more vascular than the surrounding tissue, and in some brains is pinkish. The most important efferent projection of the red nucleus is to the contralateral spinal cord i.e., the RUBROSPINAL projection

9. 1.RUBROSPINAL TRACT ORIGIN :- small bundle of fibres arise from nucleus magnocellularis of red nucleus Cross to opposite side(forel’s decussation) ventral to sylvian duct Descends down through brainstem

10. Course :- Cerebellum (some fibre) Dorsally in pons Lateral reticular nuclei of medulla (ventrally)

11. Inertion :- Enter lateral white column of spinal cord (front of crossed pyramidal tract) End at internuncial neurons at base of anterior horn cells EXTENSION :- Cervical cord recieves maximum number of fibres Note:- in man this tract do not extend beyond thoracic segment of sc

12. Function :- Red nucleus and rubrospinal tracts got facilitatory influence over flexor muscle tone

13. 2. RETICULOSPINAL TRACT 2 TPYES OF FIBRES:- a)medial reticulospinal fibres b)lateral reticulospinal fibres

14. a) Medial reticulospinal fibres (pontine reticular tract) Origin from pontine reticular formation from nuclei of reticularis pontis oralis & reticularis pontis caudalis Run ipsilaterally through longitudinal fasciculus Medial part of Anterior funiculus of sc Terminates ipsilaterally at all spinal levels

15. b)Lateral reticulospinal fibres (medularry reticulospinal tract) Originated from nucleus reticularis gigantocellularis(in medulla) Some Fibre cross in midline , remaining run ipsilaterally Descend in anterior part of lateral funiculus Terminate on internuncial neurons of anterior horn of sc

16. Functions:- Integrates information from the motor systems to coordinate automatic movements of locomotion and posture. 2. Facilitates and inhibits voluntary movement, influences muscle tone. 3. Mediates autonomic functions 4. Modulates pain impulses 5. Influences blood flow to lateral geniculate

17. 6. The MRST is responsible for exciting anti-gravity, extensor muscles . 7. The LRST is responsible for the inhibiting excitatory axial extensor muscles of movement .

18. functions Pontine reticular fibre Facilitate voluntary control and reflex movt Facilitate control of ms. Tone by gamma neurons Favours expiration on resp. Vasoconstriction of blood vessels Medullary reticular fibre Inhibits Inhibits Favours inspiration vasodilatation

20. OLIVOSPINAL TRACT Also called bulbospinal tract / tract of helweg COURSE :- Arise from inferior olivary nucleus Enter ant. Part of lateral white funiculus Terminate in an. Horn cells of sc Found in cervical region only FUNCTION :-Reflex movement arising from proprioception

21. TECTOSPINAL TRACT origin :- Superior colliculus of midbrain Course :-Fibre cross in dorsal tegmental decussation(decussation of meynert) ventral to central aqueduct Fibre descend to anterior white funiculus Terminate on anterior horn cells of sc Function :-control head movt(postural contol) in response to visual and auditory stimuli

23. Vestibulospinal tracts 2 types Anterior vestibulospinal tract Lateral vestibulospinal tract

24. a) Anterior vestibulospinal tract. Origin :- Medial vestibular nucleus in medulla Descend upto upper thoracic spinal segment Enter uncrossed into ant. White funiculus Terminate :- in ant horn cell of sc Function :-1. concerned with adjustment of head and body during angular and linear acceleration(eg. Nausea,vomiting,pallor palpitation 2.concerned with conjugate hz. Eye movt, integration of eye and neck movt.

26. b) Lateral vestibulospinal tract Origin :- Lateral vestibular nucleus(dieter’s nucleus) in medulla of both sides Tract descend throughout sc length Run uncrossed in anterior white funiculus Terminate :- anterior motor neurons of sc

27. Function :- same as anterior reticulospinal tract Facilitatory influence on reflex spinal activities and spinal mechanism underlying ms. tone

29. Extrapyramidal disorders Parkinsonism Chorea Hemiballism Athetosis Dystonia Tardive dyskinesia

30. parkinsonism Degeneration of extrapyramidal tract Characterized by rigidity , bradykinesia. Tremours and postural deficits

32. chorea type of involuntary movement disorder characterized by irregular and fleeting movements of the limbs and/or axial musculature also including the muscles of the face, jaw and tongue. Degenerative and destructive processes in the striatum or striatal inhibition (due to certain classes of drugs) are the major pathologic substrates of chorea.

34. hemiballism Hemiballism is a violent, flailing chorea of the limbs opposite a lesion in the subthalamic nucleus or, rarely, the striatum.

35. athetosis Athetosis is a rare movement disorder characterized by involuntary, slow, twisting, writhing movements of the trunk and limbs. Striatal injury, particularly prominent in the putamen, has been considered the pathophysiologic substrate

37. dystonia characterized by torsion spasms of the limbs, trunk, and neck progressive or static but are usually idiopathic. Spasmodic torticollis is the most common idiopathic form characterized by intermittent excessive and involuntary contractions of the sternomastoid muscle on one side (rarely bilateral giving retrocollis)

39. Tardive dyskinesia iatrogenic axial chorea seen most often in women exposed to long-term neuroleptic use. In its mildest form, constant mouthing with protrusion of the lips, mandible and tongue is seen, . In more advanced stages the trunk muscles are involved and there is a characteristic irregular, incessant pelvic thrusting, which can cause the patient to become a recluse.