CORTICOSPINAL TRACT Meaning and
Definition
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The corticospinal tract is a major pathway in the central nervous system that carries motor signals from the cerebral cortex to the spinal cord, controlling voluntary movements of the body. It is also known as the pyramidal tract due to its distinctive shape as it passes through the medulla oblongata of the brainstem, forming a pyramid-like structure.
This tract consists of two divisions: the lateral corticospinal tract and the ventral corticospinal tract. The lateral corticospinal tract primarily controls voluntary movements of the limbs, while the ventral corticospinal tract is responsible for coordinating movements of the axial muscles.
The corticospinal tract originates in the primary motor cortex located in the precentral gyrus of the frontal lobe. These motor commands travel through the internal capsule, the cerebral peduncles, and then descend into the brainstem. At the medulla, around 90% of the fibers cross over to the opposite side of the body in a region called the decussation of the pyramids, forming the lateral corticospinal tract. The remaining fibers continue on the same side, forming the ventral corticospinal tract.
Upon reaching the spinal cord, the corticospinal tract synapses with lower motor neurons in the ventral horn. These lower motor neurons then connect to individual muscles, allowing for precise and coordinated movement.
Damage or lesions to the corticospinal tract can result in various motor deficits, such as weakness, spasticity, or loss of fine motor control. Understanding the corticospinal tract is crucial for diagnosing and treating conditions involving motor dysfunction, such as stroke, spinal cord injuries, and certain neurodegenerative diseases.
Common Misspellings for CORTICOSPINAL TRACT
- xorticospinal tract
- vorticospinal tract
- forticospinal tract
- dorticospinal tract
- cirticospinal tract
- ckrticospinal tract
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- coeticospinal tract
- codticospinal tract
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- corricospinal tract
- corficospinal tract
- corgicospinal tract
Etymology of CORTICOSPINAL TRACT
The word "corticospinal tract" is derived from Latin and Greek roots.
The term "cortico-" originates from the Latin word "cortex", which means "bark". In the context of the corticospinal tract, "cortico-" refers to the cerebral cortex, specifically the motor cortex, which is responsible for voluntary muscle movements.
The term "-spinal" comes from the Greek word "spinalis", which means "pertaining to the spine". In this context, it denotes the fact that the tract extends from the cortex to the spinal cord.
Lastly, the term "tract" is derived from the Latin word "tractus", which means "to draw or pull". It is often used in anatomy to refer to bundles of nerves or fibers that have a specific function and are grouped together.
