Rubrospinal tract
| Rubrospinal tract | |
|---|---|
Rubrospinal tract is labeled in red on the left of the diagram. | |
Schematic representation of the chief ganglionic categories (Rubrospinal tract not labeled, but red nucleus visible near center) | |
| Details | |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | tractus rubrospinalis |
| NeuroLex ID | birnlex_1476 |
| TA98 | A14.1.02.220 A14.1.04.136 A14.1.05.332 A14.1.06.213 |
| TA2 | 6097 |
| FMA | 73995 |
| Anatomical terminology | |
The rubrospinal tract is one of the descending tracts of the spinal cord. It is a motor control pathway that originates in the red nucleus. It is a part of the lateral indirect extrapyramidal tract.
The rubrospinal tract fibers are efferent nerve fibers from the magnocellular part of the red nucleus. (Rubro-olivary fibers are efferents from the parvocelluar part of the red nucleus).
It is functionally less important in humans. It is involved in motor control of distal flexors of the upper limb—especially of the hand and fingers—by promoting flexor tone while inhibiting extensors.