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Related Concept Videos

Motor and Sensory Areas of the Cortex01:14

Motor and Sensory Areas of the Cortex

The cerebral cortex, the brain's outermost layer, is pivotal in processing complex cognitive tasks, emotions, and various sensory inputs and executing voluntary motor activities. This intricate structure is divided into three primary functional areas: the motor areas, sensory areas, and association areas.
Motor Areas
The motor areas located in the frontal lobe are central to controlling voluntary movements. This region is further subdivided into the primary motor cortex and the premotor cortex.
Somatosensory, Motor, and Association Cortex01:23

Somatosensory, Motor, and Association Cortex

The somatosensory cortex in the parietal lobes is crucial for interpreting sensory data such as touch, temperature, and proprioception. The somatosensory cortex, situated in the parietal lobes, plays a vital role in interpreting sensory information like touch, temperature, and proprioception—awareness of body position. This specialized brain region features an organized structure wherein neurons at the top primarily process sensations originating from the lower body. In contrast, those at the...
Blood and Nerve Supply to the Kidney01:18

Blood and Nerve Supply to the Kidney

The kidneys are vital organs responsible for filtering and cleaning blood, removing waste products, and regulating electrolyte levels. To perform these essential functions, they require a constant and robust blood supply.
Bloody Supply to the Kidneys:
The kidneys receive their blood supply from the renal arteries, which branch off from the abdominal aorta—the main artery supplying the abdomen and lower body. The renal arteries enter the kidneys at the hilum, a notch on the medial side of each...
Kidney Structure01:45

Kidney Structure

The kidneys are two large bean-shaped organs located in the upper abdomen. They filter the blood several times a day to remove toxins and rebalance water and electrolytes of the circulatory system via the renal veins. The kidneys receive blood directly from the heart via the renal arteries. These arteries enter the kidney at the hilum, the concave surface of the bean, where they branch and divide into smaller vessels and capillaries.
Internal Anatomy of the Kidney01:12

Internal Anatomy of the Kidney

The kidneys are essential organs in the human body, performing a myriad of tasks that maintain homeostasis and overall health.
Anatomical Position and Dimensions
The kidneys are retroperitoneal organs positioned against the posterior abdominal wall on either side of the spine, roughly between the twelfth thoracic and third lumbar vertebrae. Each kidney is typically 10-12 cm long, 5-6 cm wide, and 3-4 cm thick, weighing about 150 grams.
Renal Cortex
The outermost region of the kidney is the...
Brainstem01:19

Brainstem

The brainstem, located inferior to the brain and superior to the spinal cord, serves as a bridge between the cerebrum and the spinal cord. It plays a vital role in relaying information and controlling critical life functions. It comprises three primary regions: the midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata.
The Midbrain
The midbrain is located beneath the diencephalon and connects the cerebrum with the lower parts of the brain. The cerebral peduncles are prominent midbrain structures that house the...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 22, 2026

Comparative Proteomic Analysis of Whole Kidney, Medulla, and Cortical Tubules in Diabetic Pathogenesis of Kidney Injury in Mice
10:31

Comparative Proteomic Analysis of Whole Kidney, Medulla, and Cortical Tubules in Diabetic Pathogenesis of Kidney Injury in Mice

Published on: May 2, 2025

The motor cortex communicates with the kidney.

David J Levinthal1, Peter L Strick

  • 1Pittsburgh Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA.

The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience
|May 11, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers identified brain regions controlling kidney function using rabies virus tracing. Key areas include the primary motor cortex (M1) and rostromedial motor area (M2), suggesting a visceromotor map within the brain.

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Comparative Proteomic Analysis of Whole Kidney, Medulla, and Cortical Tubules in Diabetic Pathogenesis of Kidney Injury in Mice
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Motor Imagery Brain-Computer Interface in Rehabilitation of Upper Limb Motor Dysfunction After Stroke
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Published on: September 1, 2023

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Autonomic Nervous System Regulation
  • Visceral Control

Background:

  • The neural regulation of kidney function involves complex central nervous system pathways.
  • Identifying the specific cortical areas that initiate commands for kidney control is crucial for understanding autonomic regulation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To map the cerebral cortical areas that send output signals to the kidney.
  • To investigate the potential roles of identified cortical areas in the neural control of kidney function.

Main Methods:

  • Retrograde transneuronal transport of rabies virus from the rat kidney was employed.
  • This technique allowed for the identification of neurons in the cerebral cortex projecting to the kidney.

Main Results:

  • Multiple motor and nonmotor cortical areas were found to influence kidney function.
  • The primary motor cortex (M1) and rostromedial motor area (M2) were the predominant sources of cortical output to the kidney (68% and 15% respectively).
  • Cortical output originated mainly from the trunk representations within M1 and M2, suggesting an embedded visceromotor map within the somatotopic map.

Conclusions:

  • The cerebral cortex, particularly M1 and M2, plays a significant role in the neural regulation of kidney function.
  • M1 output may provide precise, organ-specific regulation, while M2 output could contribute to anticipatory allostatic control.
  • A visceromotor representation appears to be integrated within the known somatotopic organization of the motor cortex.