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Related Concept Videos

Direct Motor Pathways01:11

Direct Motor Pathways

The direct motor pathways, also known as the pyramidal tracts, are a group of neural pathways that originate in the brain and descend through the spinal cord. They control the voluntary movement of the body. There are two major direct motor pathways: the corticospinal and the corticobulbar tracts.
The corticospinal tract is responsible for the voluntary movement of the limbs and trunk. It originates in the cerebral cortex of the brain and descends through the cerebrum's internal capsule and the...
Indirect Motor Pathways01:22

Indirect Motor Pathways

The indirect motor or extrapyramidal pathways originate in the brainstem, the lower portion of the brain that connects it to the spinal cord. They consist of several distinct tracts, each with specialized functions. The four main tracts of the indirect motor pathways are the vestibulospinal tract, the reticulospinal tract, the tectospinal tract, and the rubrospinal tract.
The vestibulospinal tract originates in the vestibular nuclei of the brainstem. The vestibular system detects changes in...
Hierarchy of Motor Control01:18

Hierarchy of Motor Control

The hierarchy of motor control refers to the different levels of organization and processing involved in controlling movement in the body. These levels range from higher cortical areas involved in planning and decision-making to lower spinal cord reflexes that respond automatically to external stimuli.
Overview of Somatic Sensory Pathways01:29

Overview of Somatic Sensory Pathways

Somatic sensory or somatosensory pathways refer to the neural pathways that carry information related to touch, pressure, pain, temperature, and proprioception from the skin, muscles, tendons, and joints to the brain. These pathways involve several stages of processing and integration of sensory information.
The somatosensory system is divided into three main pathways: the dorsal (or posterior) column-medial lemniscus, spinothalamic (or anterolateral), and spinocerebellar pathways.
The dorsal...
Major Somatic Sensory Pathways01:28

Major Somatic Sensory Pathways

Sensory impulses related to touch, pressure, vibration, and proprioception from various body parts, such as the limbs, trunk, neck, and posterior head, travel to the cerebral cortex through the posterior column-medial lemniscus pathway. The pathway’s name derives from the two white-matter tracts that convey the impulses: the spinal cord's posterior column and the brainstem's medial lemniscus. First-order sensory neurons extend their axons into the spinal cord, forming the posterior columns...
Spinal Cord: Cross-sectional Anatomy01:16

Spinal Cord: Cross-sectional Anatomy

The cross-sectional anatomy of the spinal cord offers a detailed view of its complex structure and function within the central nervous system. At the core of the spinal cord lies the gray matter, characterized by its butterfly or "H"-shaped appearance in cross-section. This central region is enveloped by white matter, with the overall structure divided into symmetrical halves by the dorsal median sulcus and the ventral median fissure.
Gray Matter and its Components
Central to the gray matter is...

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A Fine Motor Task to Study Joint Kinematics in a Preclinical Model of Neurodegenerative Disease
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Descending pathways in motor control.

Roger N Lemon1

  • 1Sobell Department of Motor Neuroscience and Movement Disorders, Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, WC1N 3BG, United Kingdom. rlemon@ion.ucl.ac.uk

Annual Review of Neuroscience
|June 19, 2008
PubMed
Summary

Descending motor pathways exhibit species-specific differences, particularly in corticospinal tract (CST) connections to limb motoneurons. Direct cortico-motoneuronal (CM) connections play a significant role in adaptive motor behaviors.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Motor Control Research
  • Comparative Neuroanatomy

Background:

  • Motor control involves complex interactions within the entire motor network, not just brain-to-spinal cord commands.
  • Descending pathways possess diverse anatomical, molecular, and functional characteristics.
  • These pathways can serve multiple roles in motor execution.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the conservation of descending motor pathways across species.
  • To reassess the significance of direct cortico-motoneuronal (CM) connections.
  • To explore species-specific variations in motor pathway transmission.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review focusing on anatomical, molecular, and functional studies of descending motor pathways.
  • Comparative analysis of pathway conservation across different species.

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  • Re-evaluation of existing data on cortico-motoneuronal connections.

    • Main Results:

    • Descending pathways show significant species differences, contrary to expectations of high conservation.
    • Specific differences are noted in corticospinal tract (CST) information transmission to upper limb motoneurons.
    • Cortico-motoneuronal (CM) connections, though operating in parallel, have significant functional roles.

    Conclusions:

    • Descending motor pathways are not as highly conserved across species as previously thought.
    • Direct CM connections are crucial for specific motor functions, including fine motor control and adaptive behaviors.
    • Understanding species differences in motor pathways is vital for comparative neuroscience and clinical applications.