Nerve tract

Nerve Tract

A nerve tract is a bundle of nerve fibers (axons) in the central nervous system. Nerve tracts are the pathways that nerves follow within the brain. They are sometimes also referred to as white matter pathways, due to the white, fatty myelin sheath that surrounds the axons.

Structure

Nerve tracts are composed of bundles of axons, the long, slender projections of neurons. These axons are often bundled together, and they carry electrical impulses from one place to another within the brain. The axons are surrounded by a fatty substance called myelin, which insulates the axons and allows for faster transmission of electrical signals.

Function

The main function of nerve tracts is to transmit signals from one part of the brain to another, and from the brain to the rest of the body. This is essential for all bodily functions, from movement to thought.

Types of Nerve Tracts

There are several different types of nerve tracts in the brain, including:

• Association fibers: These tracts connect different parts of the same hemisphere.
• Commissural fibers: These tracts connect the two cerebral hemispheres.
• Projection fibers: These tracts connect the cerebrum with lower brain or spinal cord centers.

Clinical Significance

Damage to nerve tracts can lead to a variety of neurological disorders, such as multiple sclerosis, in which the myelin sheath around the axons is damaged.

See Also

• Neuron
• Myelin
• White matter
• Multiple sclerosis

References

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  White Matter Connections Obtained with MRI Tractography
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  Tracts of Human Brain
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  Cingulum