The Rubrospinal System

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The Rubrospinal System

• Posture Control

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Introduction

• This somatotopic pathway functions to excite
  flexor motoneurons and inhibit extensor neurons,
  contributing to posture control.
• The two major sources of input include the
  cerebral cortex and the superior cerebellar
  peduncle.

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Getting to the Red Nucleus
Primary Motor Cortex
Cerebral Peduncle
Red Nucleus
Midbrain
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Stepping out (of the Red Nucleus)

• The fibers leave the red
• nucleus and cross in the
• ventral decussation.

Red Nucleus
Decussation
Beginning the Rubrospinal Tract
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Traveling down the cord
Cervical - after leaving the red
nucleus. Lumbar - entering the ventral
horn Lumbar - leaving via the ventral roots
Fibers in the rubro- spinal pathway descend
ipsilaterally after crossing in the midbrain.
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Leaving the cord

• The fibers synapse
• mainly on interneurons
• in the ventral horn.
• Fibers leave continuously
• throughout the spinal
• cord, thereby providing .
• axial muscle posture
• control.

Lumbar Segment
Ventral Horn
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