Hypothalamospinal tract
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The hypothalamospinal tract is a nerve tract that arises mainly from the paraventricular nucleus of hypothalamus, and lateral and posterior areas of the hypothalamus. The tract descends through the periaqueductal gray and adjacent reticular formation.[1] It is found in the dorsolateral quadrant of the lateral funiculus, in the lateral tegmentum of the medulla, pons and midbrain.[2]
Hypothalamospinal tract | |
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Details | |
Identifiers | |
Latin | tractus hypothalamospinalis |
TA98 | A14.1.05.329 |
TA2 | 6098 |
FMA | 77482 |
Anatomical terminology |
The first-order neuron of the hypothalamospinal tract arises from the hypothalamus and synapses in the lateral horn of the spinal cord at the level of T1. The second-order neuron of the hypothalamospinal tract arises from the lateral horn of T1 and synapses on the superior cervical ganglion. The third-order neurons of hypothalamospinal tract carries sympathetic fibers to the eyelids, pupil, and skin of the face. [3]
The hypothalamospinal tract includes fibres by which the hypothalamus projects to the ciliospinal center in the spinal cord, a part of a brain circuit regulating pupillary dilatation as part of the pupillary reflex.[4]
Lesions of the hypothalamospinal tract above spinal cord level T1 cause ipsilateral Horner's syndrome, which is characterized by a triad of ptosis, miosis, and anhidrosis due to sympathetic denervation of the face.[2]