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Related Concept Videos

Indirect Motor Pathways01:22

Indirect Motor Pathways

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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...
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Direct Motor Pathways01:11

Direct Motor Pathways

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

Spinal Cord: Cross-sectional Anatomy

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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
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Overview of Somatic Sensory Pathways01:29

Overview of Somatic Sensory Pathways

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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.
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The dorsal...
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Major Somatic Sensory Pathways01:28

Major Somatic Sensory Pathways

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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...
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Hierarchy of Motor Control01:18

Hierarchy of Motor Control

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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.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 1, 2025

Unilateral Pyramidotomy of the Corticospinal Tract in Rats for Assessment of Neuroplasticity-inducing Therapies
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Corticospinal vs Rubrospinal Revisited: An Evolutionary Perspective for Sensorimotor Integration.

Rafael Olivares-Moreno1, Paola Rodriguez-Moreno1, Veronica Lopez-Virgen1

  • 1Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Querétaro, Mexico.

Frontiers in Neuroscience
|June 28, 2021
PubMed
Summary

Both corticospinal (CS) and rubrospinal (RS) pathways modulate spinal networks in parallel for sensorimotor integration. These systems may complement each other and aid motor recovery after central nervous system (CNS) damage.

Keywords:
motor controlmotor cortexmotor recoveryred nucleusspinal cord

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Motor Control
  • Spinal Cord Research

Background:

  • Understanding sensorimotor control is crucial for addressing motor deficits after CNS injury.
  • The corticospinal (CS) and rubrospinal (RS) pathways are key for skilled movement.
  • Evolutionarily, the cerebral cortex gained hierarchical control over rubro-cerebellar circuits.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the parallel modulation of spinal neuronal networks by CS and RS systems.
  • To explore the role of these systems in sensorimotor integration.
  • To assess their potential for motor recovery post-CNS damage.

Main Methods:

  • Anatomical tracing techniques.
  • Neurophysiological recordings.
  • Behavioral assessments in animal models.

Main Results:

  • Evidence suggests parallel modulation of complex segmental neuronal networks by both CS and RS systems.
  • These systems are vital for sensorimotor integration at the spinal cord level.
  • Both pathways demonstrate complementary functions.

Conclusions:

  • The CS and RS systems work in parallel to modulate spinal networks, supporting sensorimotor integration.
  • Despite specializations, these systems are complementary and may facilitate motor recovery after CNS injury.