Anatomy / Nervous system

Rubrospinal tract

Nervous system · part of Lateral funiculus

The rubrospinal tract is one of the descending tracts of the spinal cord. It is a motor control pathway that originates in the red nucleus. It is a part of the lateral indirect extrapyramidal tract. The rubrospinal tract fibers are efferent nerve fibers from the magnocellular part of the red nucleus. (Rubro-olivary fibers are efferents from the parvocelluar part of the red nucleus). It is functionally less important in humans. It is involved in motor control of distal flexors of the upper limb—especially of the hand and fingers—by promoting flexor tone while inhibiting extensors. (Wikipedia)