red nucleus
Quick Summary
The red nucleus is a large, centrally located structure within the midbrain's tegmentum. It plays a role in coordinating sensorimotor information. This nucleus receives input from the cerebellum and the motor cortex.12
From the caudal part of the red nucleus, the rubrospinal tract originates. This tract's fibers cross over at midbrain levels and descend into the spinal cord. There, they influence interneurons that facilitate flexor muscle tone and reciprocally inhibit extensor muscle tone. The rubrospinal tract is thus influenced by both the motor cortex and the cerebellum.21
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.
human nervous systemMidbrain…located structure known as the red nucleus. Most crossed ascending fibers of this bundle project to thalamic nuclei, which have access to the primary motor cortex. A smaller number of fibers synapse on large cells in caudal regions of the red nucleus; these give rise to the crossed fibers of…
Read More…located structure known as the red nucleus. Most crossed ascending fibers of this bundle project to thalamic nuclei, which have access to the primary motor cortex. A smaller number of fibers synapse on large cells in caudal regions of the red nucleus; these give rise to the crossed fibers of…
Read More
midbrainThe red nucleus is a large structure located centrally within the tegmentum that is involved in the coordination of sensorimotor information. Crossed fibres of the superior cerebellar peduncle (the major output system of the cerebellum) surround and partially terminate in the red nucleus. Most crossed ascending…
Read MoreThe red nucleus is a large structure located centrally within the tegmentum that is involved in the coordination of sensorimotor information. Crossed fibres of the superior cerebellar peduncle (the major output system of the cerebellum) surround and partially terminate in the red nucleus. Most crossed ascending…
Read More- human nervous systemRubrospinal tract
…the caudal part of the red nucleus, an encapsulated cell group in the midbrain tegmentum. Fibers of this tract decussate at midbrain levels, descend in the lateral funiculus of the spinal cord (overlapping ventral parts of the corticospinal tract), enter the spinal gray matter, and terminate on interneurons in lamina…
Read More…the caudal part of the red nucleus, an encapsulated cell group in the midbrain tegmentum. Fibers of this tract decussate at midbrain levels, descend in the lateral funiculus of the spinal cord (overlapping ventral parts of the corticospinal tract), enter the spinal gray matter, and terminate on interneurons in lamina…
Read More