Question

What are the ascending and descending tracts of the spinal cord?

Answer 1

The direction of travel of the ascending tracts is from the site of the stimulus (outside of the central nervous system, in the periphery on one of the limbs) to the designated area of the brain. Since the brain is situated in the skull at the top of the body (when erect), the direction is said to be ascending via the nervous tracts of the spinal cord. The direction of the descending tracts is of course the opposite.