Spinal Cord Pathways

My goal is to reduce educational disparities by making education FREE.
These videos help you score extra points on medical school exams (USMLE, COMLEX, etc.)
For educational purposes only; NOT medical or other advice.
Some videos contain mild profanity and hyperbole solely used to assist with memorization. Viewer discretion advised.
Opinions are entirely my own.

[raymondbascal]

The names of the pathways also tell you a bit about what the pathways do.
Ex. Cortico-spinal can be translated to cortex to spine which means it's going from the head to body.
You can then deduce this is motor related.

Ex. Spinothalamic can be translated to from spine to cortex.
You can then assume that this is sensory.

If you're short on time, this can at least help you eliminate some choices even if you don't know exactly what it is.

[catherinea]

I don't usually comment but I just wanted to say - I passed my neuro block because of you. Thank you Dirty Medicine!!!

[rebeccah.]

I'm in my second last year of medicine and honestly, I have never understood these concepts as clearly as I do now, after watching your videos. Thank you so much!

[PowderChaser]

Are you kidding me man?! How are you so damn good? We don't deserve you! Glad to have you!

[direwolfbd]

2 weeks away from my step 1 and I have never understood brown sequard syndrome so clearly as I do now. THANK YOU DIRTY

[christophersmith]

These pathways are so forgettable that I have to re-learn it every now and then. These mnemonics make it easier.

Btw, my teacher taught me a mnemomic for Brown-Sequard syndrome which makes it very easy that I remember it upto this point. I want to share it.

DISC LION

DISC is for SENSORY loss (below the lesion)
DI = Dorsal column (Ipsilateral), SC = Spinothalamic tract (contralateral)
For those wondering what about "At the level of the lesion", it's obvious. You can deduce that there'll be hyperesthesia on the same side, and nothing will happen on the opposite side.

LION is for MOTOR loss.
LI = Lesion (ipsilateral), ON = Normal (opposite)

So, at the level of the lesion, you'll have LMNL and below the level of the lesion, UMNL.

Even though motor is said to be "normal" for opposite site of the lesion, there will be some deficit in axial and proximal muscles because of ACST damage.

[irfand]

3 synapses in DCML pathway :
Sensory neuron in the fingers/toes >> Dorsal column nuclei (sensory neuron projects upto the DCN in medulla where it decussates in the medial lemniscus and projects upwards to the thalamus)
Dorsal column nuclei >> Thalamus
Thalamus >> Primary sensory cortex (cortical centre of the brain responsible for processing all sensory input from the body)

[pragyasingh]

You deserve all the happiness in the universe. Thank you so much for your videos!

[PriyankaDas-bjer]

You saved many medical students. We will be grateful to you

[chanelv]

Just Wow! You Sir have a gift at making everything so understandable. Thank you.

[karolinealves]

This is the MOST incredible video ever! Im soooo thankful for your existence! lol saving med students THANK YOU!

[amolr]

Good vid but kind’ve counterintuitive on the colorings for the Corticospinal tract where you put the LCST (UMN) in red in writing but the picture that’s up has it as a blue tract, and the Anterior Horn (LMN) is blue in writing but red on the drawing 😅

[AlanaOkun]

i passed step 1 dirty!!! i 100% think it was because i discovered your videos 3 days before my test LOL. now i'm watching the rest of them to keep learning in m3 year!

[r.y]

Many Thanks! I used to have a hard time getting into it when I was a preclinical student. And I just understood this NOW! 😢

[lisabell]

In Brown Sequard, there would also be LMN findings ipisilaterally AT the level of the lesion, correct? Not just UMN below level on the lesion? Thanks!

[hillaryfrench]

This helped so much! Thanks for saving us medical students!

[NadiaFleurantin]

WOW. you are just....amazing. thanks for this.

[el-adcohen]

Great channel for physios too! Hats off.

[mitraahmadi]

Thank you for making it simple i was so confused with all these tracts

[adi]

17:14 - Decreased pin prick refers to decreased pain sensation not discriminative touch and would indicate a lateral spinothalamic tract problem, right?