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

All Names & Sources

Showing 12 synonym(s)

Name:

rust

Language:

acronym

Organism:

mouse

Source:

Hof-2000

Citation:

Elsevier, Amsterdam, 2000

Source Title:

Comparative Cytoarchitectonic Atlas of the C57BL/6 and 129/Sv Mouse Brains

Name:

traktus rubrospinal

Language:

Indonesian

Organism:

human

Source:

Noback-1982

Citation:

Jakarta: Penerbit Buku Kedokteran EGC, 1982

Source Title:

Anatomi Susunan Saraf Manusia, Prinsip-Prinsip Dasar Neurobiologi

Name:

rubrospinal tract (Monakow)

Language:

English

Organism:

rat

Source:

Swanson-1998

Citation:

Second Revised Edition, Elsevier Science, Amsterdam, 1998

Source Title:

Brain Maps: Structure of the Rat Brain

Name:

rubrospinal tract

Language:

English

Organism:

human

Source:

Paxinos-2004

Citation:

Second Edition, Elsevier Academic Press, Amsterdam, 2004

Source Title:

The Human Nervous System

Name:

Tractus rubrospinalis

Language:

Latin

Organism:

human

Source:

Nomina-1983

Citation:

Fifth Edition, Williams and Wilkins Co., Baltimore, 1983

Source Title:

Nomina Anatomica

Name:

fibras rubroespinales

Language:

Spanish

Organism:

human

Citation:

edicion 4, Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore; traducción de Editorial Medica Panamericana, Buenos Aires, efectuada por el Dr. Alejandro Kaufman

Source Title:

Neuroanatomía Fundamentos

Name:

haz rubroespinal

Language:

Spanish

Organism:

human

Citation:

edicion 4, Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore; traducción de Editorial Medica Panamericana, Buenos Aires, efectuada por el Dr. Alejandro Kaufman

Source Title:

Neuroanatomía Fundamentos

Name:

красноядерно-спинномозговой путь

Language:

Russian

Organism:

human

Source:

Baev-2000

Citation:

Moskva: Meditsina, 2000.

Source Title:

Magnitno-Resonansnaia Tomografiia Golovnogo Mozga: Normal'naia Anatomiia

Name:

tratto rubrospinale

Language:

Italian

Organism:

human

Citation:

EdiSes, s.r.l.- Napoli, 1995

Source Title:

Fondamenti di Neuroanatomia

Name:

rs

Language:

acronym

Organism:

Unspecified

Source:

NeuroNames

Citation:

University of Washington, Seattle, WA

Source Title:

NeuroNames

Name:

rs

Language:

acronym

Organism:

Macaca mulatta

Citation:

Amsterdam: Elsevier-Academic Press. 2009

Source Title:

The Rhesus Monkey Brain, Second Edition

Name:

retrospinal tract

Language:

English

Organism:

human

Source:

Kennedy-1997

Citation:

Neurology 48:1472.

Source Title:

Correspondence: Retrospinal tract

Species With The Structure
Equivalent By Human Macaque Rat Mouse
Topology Has The Structure Relevant Data Not Located Has The Structure Relevant Data Not Located

Showing 3 record(s)

Basis:

Topology

Has Equivalent:

Yes

Their Name:

rubrospinal tract

Basis:

Topology

Has Equivalent:

Yes

Their Name:

Tractus rubrospinalis

Source:

Nomina-1983

Basis:

Topology

Has Equivalent:

Yes

Organism:

Rattus (rat)

Their Name:

rubrospinal tract (Monakow)

Source:

Swanson-1998

Models Where It Appears
Structural CNS Model - Macaque

Brain structures of the macaque are illustrated in BrainInfo’s NeuroMaps macaque brain atlas. Structures are grouped by proximity in a hierarchy corresponding to the central nervous system hierarchy of NeuroNames ( Bowden-1995 Martin-2000 ). Structures in the NeuroMaps atlas are based on the segmentation of an MRI of the brain of a 3-year old male rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta). The atlas is most useful for targeting structures for implantating electrodes and chemtrodes. Updated 29 Oct 2025.

Functional CNS Model - Rat

The Functional CNS Model - Rat (FMrat) ( Swanson-2004) is one of three hierarchical models representing the internal organization of the central nervous system (CNS). The others are the Structural CNS Model - Human (SThmn) and the Functional CNS Model - Human (FMhmn). The FMrat model represents the basic organization of the mouse ( Hof-2000 AMBA-2024 ) and, presumably, other rodents. Functional CNS models differ from structural models in that structures are defined and named by connectivity rather than by proximity to other structures at the same level. Functional models are more useful for representing longitudinal components of are grouped based on information drawn from multiple neuroscientific disciplines. such as connections, neurochemical characteristics, and role in physiogical and behavioral processes. While the Functional Model was developed primarily for an atlas of the rat brain ( Swanson-2004 ), the hierarchical organization of structures is for the most part applicable to the human, macaque, mouse and other mammalian brains as well. Structures at lower levels of the Functional CNS hierarchy are largely the same as in the Classical and Developmental Models, i.e., they were originally identified by stains for gray matter (Nissl substance) and white matter (myelin). At the next higher level they are grouped into basic connectional and functional systems of the CNS, such as the subcortical sensory systems, the brainstem motor system and the behavioral state system. At the highest levels CNS structures are grouped on the basis of dissection and embryologic precursors into cerebrum ( cerebral cortex and cerebral nuclei ), cerebellum, and cerebrospinal trunk.