Spino-olivary tract

Spino-olivary tract is a part of the human nervous system that connects the spinal cord to the olive, a structure in the brainstem. The tract is involved in the processing of sensory information and the coordination of movement.

Etymology

The term "spino-olivary" is derived from the Latin spina, meaning "spine", and oliva, meaning "olive". This reflects the tract's origin in the spinal cord and its termination in the olive of the brainstem.

Structure

The spino-olivary tract originates in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. From there, it ascends to the brainstem, where it terminates in the olive. The tract is composed of axons, which are long, slender projections of neurons that transmit electrical impulses away from the neuron's cell body.

Function

The spino-olivary tract is involved in the processing of sensory information, particularly proprioception, which is the sense of the relative position of one's own parts of the body and strength of effort being employed in movement. It also plays a role in the coordination of movement, as it provides feedback to the cerebellum, a part of the brain that is involved in motor control.

Clinical significance

Damage to the spino-olivary tract can result in a variety of neurological disorders, including ataxia, which is a lack of muscle control or coordination of voluntary movements, and hypotonia, which is a state of low muscle tone.

See also

• Spinal cord
• Olive (anatomy)
• Proprioception
• Ataxia
• Hypotonia

References

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