Spinoolivary tract

The spinoolivary tract is an example of an ascending sensory tract. The axons of first order neurons for spinoolivary tract arise from the dorsal root ganglion and enter the posterior gray columns of spinal cord. The cell bodies of the second order neurons have not been clearly identified in the posterior horn. However, the axons of these second order neurons have been traced crossing the midline (or decussating) in the spinal cord. From here the spinoolivary tract ascends in the anterolateral funiculus (or anterolateral white column) and synapses with cell bodies of third order neurons inside the inferior olivary nucleus. Next, the axons of third order neurons–once again, cross the midline–to pass through inferior cerebellar peduncle and thus end up conveying information to the cerebellum.