Tectospinal Tract

The Tectospinal Tract is a descending extrapyramidal tract that connects the quadrigeminal tract (also known as the superior colliculus) to the spinal cord. It transmits the influence of the subcortical centers of vision and hearing on the tone of skeletal muscles and protective reflexes.

This tract begins in the quadrigeminal region, where neurons receive incoming signals from the visual and auditory centers of the cerebral cortex. These neurons then send their axons down the spinal cord, where they communicate with motor neurons responsible for controlling muscle tone and protective reflexes.

One of the main functional aspects of the Tectospinal tract is its participation in the protective reflexes of the head and neck. When the head turns or rises quickly in response to a sudden sound or movement, neurons in this tract send signals to motor neurons that cause the muscles of the neck and head to contract, protecting the brain.

In addition, the Tectospinal tract may be involved in the control of muscle tone and coordination of eye movements, although these functions may be performed by other descending pathways.

Although the Tectospinal tract is not the most widely studied or well-known descending pathway, its role in protecting the brain and controlling muscle tone makes it important for understanding the functioning of the nervous system.

The Tectospinal Tract (TCT) is a descending extrapyramidal tract that connects the quadrigeminal tract, the upper portion of the diencephalon, to the spinal cord. This tract transmits the influence of the subcortical centers of auditory and visual perception to the spinal level, thus ensuring the maintenance of skeletal muscle tone, as well as special protective reflexes