rubrospinal tract (rs)

The term rubrospinal tract refers to a fiber bundle that originates in the caudal magnocellular part of the red nucleus, crosses to the contralateral side of the midbrain in the ventral tegmental decussation and descends in the dorsolateral fasciculus of the spinal cord ventral to the lateral corticospinal tract. It is composed of the rubrospinal tract of the midbrain, rubrospinal tract of the hindbrain and rubrospinal tract of the spinal cord.The description of this structure is based on studies in the rat, cat, and monkey ( Paxinos-2004 ). Clinical evidence for its existence in the human ( Terao-1996 ) has been challenged ( Kennedy-1997 ). A reference to it as 'retrospinal tract' in the header to Kennedy-1997 was apparently a labeling error.

Also known as: rubrospinal tract (Monakow), rubrospinal tract, Tractus rubrospinalis, retrospinal tract

NeuroNames ID: 806

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