Lesion Sides

Dorsal column crossing location

medulla

Spinothalamic pathway crossing location

spinal cord

Corticospinal tract crossing location

medulla

Effect of right spinal cord lesion on dorsal column

right vibration and proprioception loss

Effect of right spinal cord lesion on corticospinal tract

right movement loss

Effect of right spinal cord lesion on spinothalamic tract

left pain and temperature loss

Reason dorsal column deficits are ipsilateral in spinal cord lesions

crossing occurs later in medulla

Reason spinothalamic deficits are contralateral in spinal cord lesions

crossing occurs early in spinal cord

Definition of ipsilateral

same side of the body

Definition of contralateral

opposite side of the body

Effect of brain lesion above medulla

opposite side motor and sensory deficits

Effect of left brain lesion on movement

right side movement loss

Effect of left brain lesion on vibration sensation

right side vibration loss

Effect of left brain lesion on pain sensation

right side pain and temperature loss

Rule for spinal cord lesions

same side vibration and movement loss with opposite side pain and temperature loss

Rule for brain lesions

opposite side sensory and motor deficits

First step when solving lesion questions

determine whether pathway crossed yet

Second step when solving lesion questions

decide if deficit will be ipsilateral or contralateral

Location where spinothalamic tract crosses

anterior white commissure

Shortcut rule for spinal cord hemisection

same side movement and vibration loss opposite side pain and temperature loss