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Gowers' tract

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The anterior spinocerebellar tract. Tract formed of fibres from posterior roots of lateral tract of the spinal cord reaching the cerebellum by way of the superior peduncle.

The English neurologist Henry Charlton Bastian (1837-1915) discovered the anterior spinocerebellar tract of the spinal cord in 1867. It is now known, however, as "Gower's tract" because of the more detailed investigations of it made by Gowers in 1880. In 1890 Gowers showed for the first time that complete section of the upper spinal cord abolishes reflexes and muscular tone below the level of the lesion; this has been known occasionally as Bastian's law.

Bibliography

  • W. R. Gowers:
    The diagnosis of diseases of the spinal cord. London, J. & A. Churchill, 1880.
    Gowers demonstrated the dorsal spinocerebellar tract and introduced the terms myotatic and knee-jerk, which he elicited with the rubber edge of his stethoscope or a percussion hammer.
    The anterior spinocerebellar tract of the spinal cord was discovered in 1867 by Henry Charlton Bastian (1837-1915). Because of the more detailed investigations of it made by Gowers in 1880, it now bears Gowers' name.

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