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Mnemonics, Simplified Concepts & Thoughts

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decorticate decerebrate

Decorticate and Decerebrate Rigidity – Mnemonics

Epomedicine, Jun 3, 2019Jun 3, 2019

Rubrospinal tract mediates flexor of the upper arm.

Here is a way to remember these two postures and never forget again.

Decerebrate has more “E” and more “R”.

  1. Extended upper limbs
  2. Rubrospinal tract transected (Red nucleus is above the level of lesion, i.e. below midbrain level)

Decorticate has “COR”.

  1. Upper limbs are brought towards CORE (i.e. flexed)
  2. Loss of CORTICAL inhibition of red nucleus (rubro-spinal tract), i.e. tonic discharge from red nucleus.

Lower limb in extended and plantar flexed in both the cases.

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PGMEE, MRCS, USMLE, MBBS, MD/MS Internal medicineNervous systemPediatrics

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Comments (6)

  1. Andrew says:
    Sep 11, 2020 at 6:13 pm

    IS THAT THE YAO MING FACE PLEASE ANSWER ME I FEEL LIKE I’M GOING CRAZY

    Reply
    1. Luke says:
      Sep 16, 2020 at 8:36 pm

      its gotta be

      Reply
    2. Johanna says:
      Sep 24, 2020 at 9:21 pm

      Thought I was going crazy too but it absolutely is. How it made its way into this image is beyond me.

      Reply
    3. Lund says:
      Jan 27, 2021 at 12:32 pm

      Yes indeed

      Reply
    4. Coochie says:
      Jun 11, 2022 at 4:15 pm

      Yo is that Yao Ming??

      Reply
  2. Sychomadman says:
    Jul 8, 2021 at 4:48 am

    I see ur a man of culture as well. XD

    Reply

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Epomedicine. Decorticate and Decerebrate Rigidity – Mnemonics [Internet]. Epomedicine; 2019 Jun 3 [cited 2025 Dec 19]. Available from: https://epomedicine.com/medical-students/decorticate-and-decerebrate-rigidity-mnemonics/.

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