Tectospinal Path

Tectospinal tract is one of the most important pathways in the central nervous system that connects the midbrain (tectum mesencephalis) and the spinal cord. This pathway plays an important role in the regulation of movements and coordination of movements.

The tectospinal tract consists of several neurons that are located in the midbrain. They receive information from various sensory systems such as visual, auditory and tactile. These neurons then transmit this information to the spinal cord, where they interact with motor neurons that control muscles.

One of the key elements of the tectospinal tract is the tectospinal reticular complex, which is located in the midbrain and plays an important role in maintaining muscle tone and regulating movements. When information comes from sensory neurons to the tectospinal complex, it activates motor neurons that control muscles.

In addition, the tectospinal tract is involved in the regulation of balance and motor coordination, as well as in the control of eye movements. For example, when we look at an object, information about this is transmitted through the tectospinal tract to the cerebellum, which controls the coordination of movements.

Thus, the tectospinal tract plays an important role in motor control and motor coordination. It provides communication between sensory systems and motor neurons in the spinal cord, allowing us to move and coordinate our movements with our environment.

What is the tectospinal tract?

The tectospinal tract is the posterior oblongata tract of central motor neurons in the brain stem in some vertebrates and humans, involved in the coordination of movements, maintaining the balance of standing and walking, and the implementation and correction of reactions to direct and angular accelerations of movement. It is assumed that there is a bundle of lateral spinocerebellar tracts that make up the lateral section of the tectospinal tract and go to the lateral surfaces of the cerebellar vermis, coordinating the movement of the limbs in all directions (circular component of balance).

The definition of the path received this name due to the fact that the fibers that make it up form the roof of the midbrain - the tegmentum - along their path.