VPB 121: Veterinary Physiology - II (2+1)

SPINO RETICULAR TRACT

• Arise bilaterally from all levels of the spinal cord.
• Terminate within many portions of the nuclei of the Brain stem reticular formation. These nuclei all receive afferents from the spinal cord.
• Nucleus lateralis reticularis: Projects fibers ipsilateral to cerebellar cortex
• Nucleus reticularis paramedianus: Projects fibers both ipsilateral and contralateral to cerebellar cortex. This forms another spino reticular  cerebellar pathway
• Roller nucleus and Nucleus intrafascicularis: Project fibers ipsilateral to cerebellar cortex and forms a third spino reticular cerebellar pathway
• Nucleus reticularis tegmenti pontis: Forms a fourth spino reticular  cerebellar pathway

Functions

• Important in many facets of normal activity.
• Carry sensory information from the skin and deep tissues and play an important role in the regulation of somatic and visceral motor activity.
• In maintenance of consciousness and perception .
• Accommodation of motor activities occur if this is transected bilaterally in domestic animals.
• Relay ascending activity to higher centers of the brain.
• Significant in pain perception.
• Modify respiration by terminating some of the fibers on nucleus  of the pneumotaxic center.
• Control  micturition.
• The tract terminates on neurons of the BSRFand serves as a feedback system for control of spinal cord activities.