Decorticate vs Decerebral

[microphage]

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Just can't seem to remember which is which. I'm stupid

[FUTR_DR]

Originally Posted by microphage

Just can't seem to remember which is which. I'm stupid

Decorticate is toward the core(body). Deceribate is awawy from the body.

[Demarco]

Lesion wise ..

Decorticate is below the midbrain ..and the other is above the midbrain ..if i remember correctly.

[madwoc]

Decorticate is similar to having a stroke, so you get flexion of upper limbs and extension of lower limbs
Decerebrate is below that, so patient will have extension of all 4 limbs.

[thethom]

Sorry for unearthing an old thread, but some books say that if the lesion is above the red nucleus of the midbrain, and thus preserving the rubrospinal tracts(red nucleus preferentially activates the flexors) then you will see decorticate posturing (flexion). If below the red nucleus, then Rubrospinal tracts are gone, and we have unopposed influence from the much lower vestibular nuclei and vestibulospinal tracts (which preferentially activate ipsilateral extensors), causing limb extension, and decerebrate posturing.

Hope it helps, I love neuroanatomy...

[SPODAT]

1. Decerebrate refers to losing cerebral reflex control, as in an intracranial catastrophe, causing stiffened extension and pronation of Upper extrem, loss of DTRs.

2. Decorticate refers to loss at the level of the midbrain: causing flexed arms and extended legs.

(Tabers Medical dictionary)