| Tectospinal tract | |
|---|---|
 Diagram showing possible connection of long descending fibers from higher centers with the motor cells of the ventral column through association fibers. ("Tectospinal fasciculus" labeled at center right.) | |
 Diagram of the principal fasciculi of thespinal cord. ("Tectospinal fasciculus" labeled at center right, in red.) | |
| Details | |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | tractus tectospinalis |
| MeSH | D065844 |
| NeuroLex ID | birnlex_759 |
| TA98 | A14.1.02.211 A14.1.04.112 |
| TA2 | 6119 |
| FMA | 72620 |
| Anatomical terminology | |
In humans, thetectospinal tract (orcolliculospinal tract) is adecussatingextrapyramidaltract that coordinates head/neck and eye movements.[1]
It arises from thesuperior colliculus of themesencephalic (midbrain)tectum, and projects to the cervical and upper thoracicspinal cord levels.[2] It mediates reflex turning of the head and upper trunk in the direction of startling sensory stimuli (visual, auditory, or skin).[2]
It arises from the deep layers of thesuperior colliculus. It decussates within the posterior part ofmesencephalic tegmentum at the level of thered nucleus.[1] It descends through themedulla oblongata near the midline within themedial longitudinal fasciculus.[1] In the spinal cord, it descends in theanterior funiculus.[1] It terminates by synapsing withinterneurons of the intermediate zone andanterior grey column.[1]
