Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Direct Motor Pathways01:11

Direct Motor Pathways

5.0K
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...
5.0K
Indirect Motor Pathways01:22

Indirect Motor Pathways

3.8K
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...
3.8K
Spinal Cord: Cross-sectional Anatomy01:16

Spinal Cord: Cross-sectional Anatomy

5.9K
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...
5.9K
Brainstem01:19

Brainstem

7.6K
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...
7.6K
Hierarchy of Motor Control01:18

Hierarchy of Motor Control

6.6K
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.
6.6K
Major Somatic Sensory Pathways01:28

Major Somatic Sensory Pathways

3.3K
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...
3.3K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Gene Therapy for Amino Acid Decarboxylase Deficiency: Clinical and Imaging Outcomes in a French Cohort.

Movement disorders : official journal of the Movement Disorder Society·2026
Same author

The Clinical Effect of Annonaceae Fruit Consumption on Caribbean Parkinson's Disease Severity.

Behavioural neurology·2026
Same author

Diagnosis and pathogenesis of dystonia: clinical heterogeneity, shared mechanisms, and neurodevelopmental origins.

The Lancet. Neurology·2026
Same author

Distinct Brain Drivers and Shared Cerebello-Cortical Input in ADCY5 and SGCE Hyperkinetic Movements.

Movement disorders : official journal of the Movement Disorder Society·2026
Same author

Revisiting the Association Between Calcium Channel Blockers and Parkinson's Disease in the E3N Cohort.

Movement disorders : official journal of the Movement Disorder Society·2026
Same author

Improvement in Tics and Motor Impulsivity Is Associated With Functional and Receptor-Enriched Connectivity Changes in Adolescents With Tourette Disorder.

Biological psychiatry. Cognitive neuroscience and neuroimaging·2026
Same journal

An Effective LRSF-DLNN-Based Autism Spectrum Disorder Prediction Using EEG and fMRI.

Developmental neurobiology·2026
Same journal

Disrupted Vestibular Nuclei Neuron Development in a Chick Model for Congenital Vestibular Disorders.

Developmental neurobiology·2026
Same journal

Association Analysis Between HEI-2020 Index and Maternal Pregnancy Behaviors on ADHD in Adolescent Populations: A NHANES Cross-Sectional Study.

Developmental neurobiology·2026
Same journal

A Randomized Controlled Trial of Yizhi Kaiqiao Formula Combined With Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation on Neurocognitive and Social Outcomes in Preschool Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Developmental neurobiology·2026
Same journal

An Enhanced Machine Learning-Based Multimodal Framework for Seizure Detection Using EEG and MRI Data.

Developmental neurobiology·2026
Same journal

Clinical and Genetic Insights Into Aymé-Gripp Syndrome: Two Unrelated Cases With Additional Clinical Findings and Paternal Mosaicism.

Developmental neurobiology·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 14, 2026

Unilateral Pyramidotomy of the Corticospinal Tract in Rats for Assessment of Neuroplasticity-inducing Therapies
08:41

Unilateral Pyramidotomy of the Corticospinal Tract in Rats for Assessment of Neuroplasticity-inducing Therapies

Published on: December 15, 2014

16.5K

The corticospinal tract: Evolution, development, and human disorders.

Quentin Welniarz1,2, Isabelle Dusart2, Emmanuel Roze1,3

  • 1Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle épinière, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, INSERM U 1127, CNRS UMR 7225, F-75013, Paris, France.

Developmental Neurobiology
|October 6, 2016
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The corticospinal tract (CST), crucial for voluntary movement, shows conserved development across mammals. Disruptions in CST formation or guidance lead to human motor control disorders.

Keywords:
axon guidancedevelopmentmirror movementsmovement disorderspyramidal tract

More Related Videos

Targeting the Corticospinal Tract in Neonatal Rats with a Double-Viral Vector using Combined Brain and Spine Surgery
07:27

Targeting the Corticospinal Tract in Neonatal Rats with a Double-Viral Vector using Combined Brain and Spine Surgery

Published on: June 30, 2021

2.7K
A Fine Motor Task to Study Joint Kinematics in a Preclinical Model of Neurodegenerative Disease
05:39

A Fine Motor Task to Study Joint Kinematics in a Preclinical Model of Neurodegenerative Disease

Published on: June 13, 2025

1.0K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Mar 14, 2026

Unilateral Pyramidotomy of the Corticospinal Tract in Rats for Assessment of Neuroplasticity-inducing Therapies
08:41

Unilateral Pyramidotomy of the Corticospinal Tract in Rats for Assessment of Neuroplasticity-inducing Therapies

Published on: December 15, 2014

16.5K
Targeting the Corticospinal Tract in Neonatal Rats with a Double-Viral Vector using Combined Brain and Spine Surgery
07:27

Targeting the Corticospinal Tract in Neonatal Rats with a Double-Viral Vector using Combined Brain and Spine Surgery

Published on: June 30, 2021

2.7K
A Fine Motor Task to Study Joint Kinematics in a Preclinical Model of Neurodegenerative Disease
05:39

A Fine Motor Task to Study Joint Kinematics in a Preclinical Model of Neurodegenerative Disease

Published on: June 13, 2025

1.0K

Area of Science:

  • Neurobiology
  • Developmental Neuroscience
  • Evolutionary Biology

Background:

  • The corticospinal tract (CST) is the primary motor pathway for voluntary movements.
  • Understanding CST development is key to comprehending motor control and related disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the evolution and development of the CST in mammals.
  • To explore molecular mechanisms guiding CST formation in mice.
  • To examine human disorders linked to abnormal CST development.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of CST anatomy and development across mammalian species.
  • Review of molecular studies on CST formation and guidance in mouse models.
  • Clinical appraisal of human CST malformations and their neurological consequences.

Main Results:

  • The CST exhibits conserved anatomical features and developmental processes across mammals, including the pyramidal decussation.
  • Molecular factors acting synergistically are essential for proper CST formation and guidance during development.
  • Human disorders of the CST involve reduced tract formation or guidance defects, impacting motor control lateralization.

Conclusions:

  • Evolutionary modifications in CST projections correlate with enhanced motor skills.
  • Molecular insights from mouse development offer a framework for understanding human CST formation.
  • CST malformations underscore its critical role in the precise lateralization of motor function.