TUTORILAS ON

ASCENDING TRACTS OF
THE SPINAL CORD

1. Draw a Transverse section of the spinal

cord at the midcervical level showing the
general arrangement of the ascending
tracts .
2. What are the three typs of neurones found
in an ascending pathway? Describe them
breifly.
3. Draw a simple diagram of the ascending
sensory pathway from the sensory nerve
ending to the cerebral cortex. Name the
three neurons involved.
4. Name the main types of ascending tracts
and their functions.

5. Draw diagrams to show

1. Pain and temperature path way
2. Discriminative Touch, Vibratory
Sense
3. Light (Crude) Touch and Pressure
Pathways
4. Muscle Joint Sense Pathways to the
Cerebellum

Select the ONE lettered answer that is

CORRECT.
1.The following statements concern the white
columns of the spinal cord:
(a) The posterior spinocerebellar tract is situated in
the posterior white column.
(b) The anterior spinothalamic tract is found in the
anterior white column.
(c) The lateral spinothalamic tract is found in the
anterior white column.
(d) The fasciculus gracilis is found in the lateral white
column.
(e) The rubrospinal tract is found in the anterior
white column.

3.The following statements concern the

courses taken by the tracts listed below:
(a) The fasciculus gracilis does not cross to the
opposite side of the neural axis.
(b) The spinotectal tract does not cross to the
opposite side of the spinal cord.
(c) The lateral spinothalamic tract does not
cross to the opposite side of the spinal cord.
(d) The posterior spinocerebellar tract does
cross to the opposite side of the neural axis.
(e) The anterior spinothalamic tract
immediately crosses to the opposite side of
the spinal cord.

4.The following statements concern the nucleus

of termination of the tracts listed below:
(a) The posterior white column tracts terminate
in the inferior colliculus.
(b) The spinoreticular tract terminates on the
neurons of the hippocampus.
(c) The spinotectal tract terminates in the
inferior colliculus.
(d) The anterior spinothalamic tract terminates
in the ventral posterolateral nucleus of the
thalamus.
(e) The anterior spinocerebellar tract terminates
in the dentate nucleus of the cerebellum.

5.The following statements concern the white

columns of the spinal cord:
(a) The posterior spinocerebellar tract is
situated in the posterior white column.
(b) The anterior spinothalamic tract is found in
the anterior white column.
(c) The lateral spinothalamic tract is found in
the anterior white column.
(d) The fasciculus gracilis is found in the
lateral white column.
(e) The rubrospinal tract is found in the
anterior white column.