Cortical Association Areas

Cerebellum Motor Cortex Basal Ganglia

Mid Brain

Spinal Cord

Effector
 Descending or Motor Tracts

1.Cortico-Spinal Tract
2.Rubrospinal Tract
3.Reticulospinal Tract
4.Vestibulo spinal Tract
5.Olivospinal Tract
 CORTICO-SPINAL TRACT
The most important output pathway from
the motor cortex is the cortico-spinal
tract, which is also known as the
Pyramidal Tract.
The cortico-spinal tract transmits signals
directly from the motor cortex to the
spinal cord.
This pathway is concerned with the
detailed and skilled movements especially
of the distal segments of the limbs
particularly hands and fingers.
 CORTICO-SPINAL TRACT

ORIGIN:

The fibers of the cortico-spinal tract originate from

the following areas of the cerebral cortex:

1. Primary Motor Cortex --- 30% fibers

2. Pre-motor & Supplementary
Motor Areas --- 30% fibers
3. Somatic Sensory Cortex --- 40% fibers
COURSE:
1. After leaving the cortex, the fibers of the cortico-spinal
tract pass through the anterior two third of the posterior
limb of the internal capsule between the caudate and the
putamen nuclei.

2. Then the fibers pass through the midbrain deep to the

colliculi forming the Basis pedunculi (Crura Cerebri).

3. While passing through the pons the fibers of the cortico-

spinal tract are dispersed and run in multiple longitudinal
fascicles.

4. In the medulla the fibers run anteriorly forming the

pyramids of medulla. In the lower portion of the medulla
about 80 to 90% of the fibers cross over to the opposite
side and run downward in the spinal cord as the lateral
cortico-spinal tract.
5. Rest of the fibers run ipsilaterally as the ventral cortico-
spinal tract, but many of these fibers also cross to the
opposite side in the cervical or upper thoracic region.
 CORTICO-SPINAL TRACT
TERMINATION:

The fibers of the cortico-spinal tract terminate in

the spinal cord on three neurons:

1. Mostly on interneuron in the intermediate

region of cord’s grey matter,

2. A few on sensory relay neurons in dorsal horn

which give rise to ventral spino-cerebellar tract,
and

3. Some directly on anterior motor neurons.