Spinal Cord Basics

Tanya Warwick, M.D.

1. Fasciculus gracilis - LE
2. Fasciculus cuneatus - UE
3. Tractus spinocerebellaris dorsalis
4. Tractus corticospinalis lateralis
5. Tractus spinothalamicus lateralis
6. Tractus spinocerebellaris ventralis
7. Tractus rubrospinalis
8. Tractus spinotectalis
9. Tractus corticospinalis anterior
10. Tractus olivospinalis
11. Tractus spinoolivaris
12. Tractus tectospinalis
13. Tractus reticulospinalis
14. Tractus vestibulospinalis
15. Tractus spinothalamicus anterior

Ascending:

Dorsal Column – light touch, vibration, proprioception, tactile discrimination

Crosses medulla (internal arcuate fibers) to medial lemniscus and VPL
Receives fibers from pacinian corpuscles, Meissner’s, joint receptors, muscle
spindles, and golgi tendon organs.
Spinothalamic Tract – pain and temperature (from free nerve endings, Adelta and C fibers)

Descending:

Corticospinal Tract – 80% lateral 20% ventral / medial

 Blood Supply to Spinal Cord

Anterior 2/3
Posterior 1/3

Disc Disease

90% L4 -5 or L5 – S1
10% C5 – 6 or C6 – 7

Spinal Cord Syndromes

SMA and Polio Brown Sequard Syndrome – Ipsi weakness,

Anterior Cord Syndrome decrease light touch, propropioception,
– (b) corticospinal and (b) vibration, contralateral loss pain and
spinothalamic. If S2-4 – temperature. If > T1 – Horner’s secondary
lose BB control. If > T2, to hypothalamospinal tract.
(b) Horners.

Central Cord Syndrome

– cape anesthesia, UE
weakness > LE, urinary
retention.

Posterior Spinal artery

Familial Spastic
Paraparesis

ALS

Tabes Dorsalis Spinocerebellar

Degeneration

SCD