CORTICOSPINAL Meaning and
Definition
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The term "corticospinal" refers to the corticospinal tract, which is a prominent bundle of nerve fibers that plays a vital role in the transmission of nerve impulses from the cerebral cortex to the spinal cord. The corticospinal tract is responsible for coordinating voluntary motor movements and is a major component of the central nervous system.
This term often pertains to the relationship between the cerebral cortex and the spinal cord, which are integral in motor function. The cerebral cortex is the outer layer of the brain that is responsible for higher cognitive functions, including conscious thought, memory, and voluntary muscle movement. The spinal cord, on the other hand, acts as a relay station for nerve impulses traveling between the brain and the body.
The corticospinal tract carries motor signals from the primary motor cortex of the brain, located in the frontal lobe, down to the anterior horn cells in the spinal cord. These anterior horn cells then transmit the signals to the peripheral nerves, which finally reach the muscles, enabling movement. The corticospinal tract is also involved in regulating reflexes and modulating sensory inputs.
Damage to the corticospinal tract can result in motor deficits, such as weakness or paralysis, in the corresponding parts of the body. Conditions like stroke, trauma, and certain neurological disorders can disrupt the transmission of nerve impulses through the corticospinal tract, resulting in significant impairments in motor control and coordination.
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Relating to the cerebral cortex and the spinal cord.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for CORTICOSPINAL
- xorticospinal
- vorticospinal
- forticospinal
- dorticospinal
- cirticospinal
- ckrticospinal
- clrticospinal
- cprticospinal
- c0rticospinal
- c9rticospinal
- coeticospinal
- codticospinal
- cofticospinal
- cotticospinal
- co5ticospinal
- co4ticospinal
- corricospinal
- corficospinal
- corgicospinal
- coryicospinal
Etymology of CORTICOSPINAL
The word "corticospinal" is derived from two components: "cortico-" and "spinal".
"Cortico-" refers to the cerebral cortex, which is the outer layer of the brain responsible for higher cognitive functions. It comes from the Latin word "cortex", meaning "bark" or "rind".
"Spinal" relates to the spinal cord, which is the long, thin, tubular structure that connects the brain to the rest of the body. It comes from the Latin word "spina", meaning "thorn" or "spine".
Therefore, "corticospinal" combines these two components to describe the anatomical pathway connecting the cerebral cortex to the spinal cord, comprising the corticospinal tracts. The term is commonly used in neuroscience and medicine to refer to the descending motor pathway responsible for conscious and voluntary movements.
Similar spelling words for CORTICOSPINAL
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