The pathways that carry sensory impulses from the spinal cord to the brainstem, sensory cortex, or cerebellum are called afferent pathways. The pathways that carry information from the motor cortex and brainstem to the periphery are called descending pathways.

Ascending pathways: fasciculus gracilis, fasciculus cuneatus, lateral spinothalamic tract, anterior spinothalamic tract, posterior spinocerebellar tract, anterior spinocerebellar tract, cuneocerebellar tract, spinotectal tract, spinoreticular tract, spinoolivary tract, spinovestibular tract, trigeminal pathways.

Descending pathways: lateral corticospinal tract, anterior corticospinal tract, anterolateral corticospinal tract, corticonuclear tract, reticulospinal tract, tectospinal tract, rubrospinal tract, vestibulospinal tract, olivospinal tract.