Olivospinal Tract: Function, Pathway & Role in Limb Movement

Olivospinal tract fibres provide a powerful drive to the limb muscles.

- Excitation of the inferior olive nucleus results in excitation of the alpha motoneurons in the spinal cord via this pathway.

- The impulses which travel down the tract are carried initially across the medulla in the internal arcuate fibres and then continue in the lateral funiculus of the spinal cord.

- The fibres end by forming excitatory synapses with all limb motoneurons, especially those innervating distal muscles.