| tractus descendens nervi trigemini | <anatomy, nerve> A compact fibre bundle, comma-shaped on transverse section, composed of primary sensory fibres of the portio major of the trigeminal nerve, descending from the level of the entrance of the trigeminus in the upper pons down through the dorsolateral region of the rhombencephalic tegmentum along the lateral side of the descending or spinal nucleus of the trigeminus, emerging on the dorsolateral surface of the lower medulla oblongata as the tuberculum cinereum, and continuing as far as the second cervical segment of the spinal cord. Its fibres are distributed to the descending or spinal nucleus of the trigeminus. Synonym: tractus spinalis nervi trigemini, descending tract of trigeminal nerve, tractus descendens nervi trigemini. (05 Mar 2000) |
|---|---|
| tractus dorsolateralis | A longitudinal bundle of thin, unmyelinated and poorly myelinated fibres capping the apex of the posterior horn of the spinal gray matter, composed of posterior root fibres and short association fibres that interconnect neighboring segments of the posterior horn. Synonym: fasciculus dorsolateralis, tractus dorsolateralis, dorsolateral tract, fasciculus marginalis, Lissauer's bundle, Lissauer's column, Lissauer's fasciculus, Lissauer's marginal zone, Lissauer's tract, marginal fasciculus, Spitzka's marginal tract, Spitzka's marginal zone, Waldeyer's tract, Waldeyer's zonal layer. (05 Mar 2000) |
| tractus fastigiobulbaris | A fibre bundle originating in the fastigial nucleus (nucleus tecti) of both sides, passing out of the cerebellum in the inferior cerebellar peduncle (corpus restiforme), and distributing its fibres to the vestibular nuclei and other cell groups in the medulla oblongata. Prominent crossed fibres loop over the dorsal surface of the superior cerebellar peduncle before turning ventrally, forming the uncinate bundle of Russell. Synonym: tractus fastigiobulbaris. (05 Mar 2000) |
| tractus frontopontinus | A large group of fibres arising from the frontal lobe of the cerebral hemisphere, especially the precentral gyrus, descending in the capsula interna, farther caudally composing the medial part of the crus cerebri in which they extend caudalward to end in the gray matter (pontine nuclei) of the ventral part of the pons. Synonym: tractus frontopontinus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| tractus habenulopeduncularis | tractus habenulopeduncularis |
| tractus iliotibialis | A fibrous reinforcement of the fascia lata on the lateral surface of the thigh, extending from the crest of the ilium to the lateral condyle of the tibia. Synonym: tractus iliotibialis, iliotibial band, Maissiat's band. (05 Mar 2000) |
| tractus mesencephalicus nervi trigemini | <anatomy, nerve> Located alongside the central substance of the midbrain and composed of primary sensory fibres, the cells of origin of which compose the mesencephalic nucleus of the trigeminus. Synonym: tractus mesencephalicus nervi trigemini. (05 Mar 2000) |
| tractus occipitopontinus | A group of fibres originating in the occipital lobe of the cerebral hemisphere and descending in the internal capsule and lateral part of the crus cerebri to the pontine nuclei or ventral part of the pons. Synonym: tractus occipitopontinus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| tractus olfactorius | A nervelike, white band composed primarily of nerve fibres originating from the mitral cells and tufted cells of the olfactory bulb but also containing the scattered cells of the anterior olfactory nucleus. The tract is closely applied to the ventral surface of the frontal lobe, and attaches itself to the base of the cerebral hemisphere at the olfactory trigone, beyond which it extends in the form of the olfactory striae which distribute their fibres to the olfactory tubercle and, in largest number, to the olfactory cortex on and around the uncus of the parahippocampal gyrus. See: olfactory nerves. Synonym: tractus olfactorius, olfactory peduncle. (05 Mar 2000) |
| tractus olivocerebellaris | Synonym: olivocerebellar tract. (05 Mar 2000) |
| tractus opticus | The continuation of the optic nerve fibres beyond (behind) the latter's hemidecussation in the optic chiasm; each of the two symmetrical optic tracts is composed of fibres originating from the temporal half of the retina of the ipsilateral eye and a nearly equal number of fibres from the nasal half of the contralateral retina; it forms a compact, somewhat flattened fibre band passing caudolaterally alongside the base of the hypothalamus and over the basal surface of the crus cerebri; most of its fibres terminate in the lateral geniculate body; a smaller number of fibres enter the brachium of the superior colliculus, to terminate in the superior colliculus and the pretectal region. Synonym: tractus opticus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| tractus parietopontinus | A system of fibres originating in the parietal lobe of the cerebral hemisphere which descend in the internal capsule and lateral part of the crus cerebri to terminate in the pontine nuclei or ventral part of the pons. Synonym: tractus parietopontinus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| tractus reticulospinalis | Collective term denoting a variety of fibre tracts descending to the spinal cord from the reticular formation of the pons and medulla oblongata. Part of these fibres conduct impulses from the neural mechanisms regulating autonomic functions to the corresponding somatic and visceral motor neurons of the spinal cord; others form links in nonpyramidal motor mechanisms affecting muscle tonus, reflex activity, and somatic movement. Synonym: tractus reticulospinalis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| tractus rubrospinalis | A somatotopically organised fibre bundle, relatively small in humans, arising from the red nucleus, immediately crossing in the ventral tegmental decussation, descending near the lateral surface of the brainstem into the lateral funiculus of the spinal cord at the ventral border of the lateral pyramidal tract. It terminates in the zona intermedia of the spinal cord where its distribution coincides with that of the lateral pyramidal tract; in contrast to the latter it appears not to have direct connections with spinal motor neurons. Impulses conveyed by this tract indirectly increase flexor muscle tone. Synonym: tractus rubrospinalis, Monakow's bundle, Monakow's tract, prepyramidal tract. (05 Mar 2000) |
| tractus solitarius | A slender, compact fibre bundle extending longitudinally through the dorsolateral region of the medullary tegmentum, surrounded by the nucleus of the solitary tract, below the obex decussating over the central canal, and descending over some distance into the upper cervical segments of the spinal cord. It is composed of primary sensory fibres that enter with the vagus, glossopharyngeal, and facial nerves, and in part convey information from stretch receptors and chemoreceptors in the walls of the cardiovascular, respiratory, and intestinal tracts; in rostral parts of the tract impulses are generated by the receptor cells of the taste buds in the mucosa of the tongue. Its fibres are distributed to the nucleus of the solitary tract. Synonym: tractus solitarius, fasciculus rotundus, fasciculus solitarius, funiculus solitarius, Gierke's respiratory bundle, Krause's respiratory bundle, round fasciculus, solitary bundle, solitary fasciculus. (05 Mar 2000) |