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Robotic Spine Universe

Structures · Tracts (white matter)

Ventral corticospinal tract

A bundle of axons in the cord's white matter, part of the anterior corticospinal tract.

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At a glance

Source of the outline
A region of the PAM50 white-matter atlas, drawn at each segment levelLévy et al. 2015; De Leener et al. 2018
Levels with this region in the atlas sections
C1 to S1 (26 levels)
Pathway
Anterior corticospinal tract: voluntary control of the trunk

Cross-section at T6

left fasciculus gracilisright fasciculus gracilisleft fasciculus cuneatusright fasciculus cuneatusleft lateral corticospinal tractright lateral corticospinal tractleft ventral spinocerebellar tractright ventral spinocerebellar tractleft rubrospinal tractright rubrospinal tractleft spinal lemniscusright spinal lemniscusleft spino-olivary tractright spino-olivary tractleft ventrolateral reticulospinal tractright ventrolateral reticulospinal tractleft lateral vestibulospinal tractright lateral vestibulospinal tractleft ventral reticulospinal tractright ventral reticulospinal tractleft ventral corticospinal tractright ventral corticospinal tractleft tectospinal tractright tectospinal tractleft medial longitudinal fasciculusright medial longitudinal fasciculusleft ventral hornright ventral hornleft intermediate zoneright intermediate zoneleft dorsal hornright dorsal hornAnteriorPosteriorLR
  • Ascending (sensory)
  • Corticospinal (motor)
  • Other descending
  • Grey matter
Regions in this section (text list)
  • left fasciculus gracilis (spared)
  • right fasciculus gracilis (spared)
  • left fasciculus cuneatus (spared)
  • right fasciculus cuneatus (spared)
  • left lateral corticospinal tract (spared)
  • right lateral corticospinal tract (spared)
  • left ventral spinocerebellar tract (spared)
  • right ventral spinocerebellar tract (spared)
  • left rubrospinal tract (spared)
  • right rubrospinal tract (spared)
  • left spinal lemniscus (spared)
  • right spinal lemniscus (spared)
  • left spino-olivary tract (spared)
  • right spino-olivary tract (spared)
  • left ventrolateral reticulospinal tract (spared)
  • right ventrolateral reticulospinal tract (spared)
  • left lateral vestibulospinal tract (spared)
  • right lateral vestibulospinal tract (spared)
  • left ventral reticulospinal tract (spared)
  • right ventral reticulospinal tract (spared)
  • left ventral corticospinal tract (focus)
  • right ventral corticospinal tract (focus)
  • left tectospinal tract (spared)
  • right tectospinal tract (spared)
  • left medial longitudinal fasciculus (spared)
  • right medial longitudinal fasciculus (spared)
  • left ventral horn (spared)
  • right ventral horn (spared)
  • left intermediate zone (spared)
  • right intermediate zone (spared)
  • left dorsal horn (spared)
  • right dorsal horn (spared)

Highlighted: this region of the white-matter atlas, both sides. Outline from the PAM50 template and atlas, cut at the segment midpoint. De Leener et al. 2018; Lévy et al. 2015

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What the sources say

“The anterior corticospinal tract is responsible for controlling the muscles of the body trunk (see Figure 14.28).” Betts et al. 2022, §14.3
“Because movements of the body trunk involve both sides of the body, the anterior corticospinal tract is not entirely contralateral.” Betts et al. 2022, §14.3

Read more

  • Corticospinal tract

    The main route for voluntary movement, from the motor cortex down through the brainstem, across the midline and down the cord to the lower motor neurons. Why a cut on one side of the cord weakens the same side below it.

  • Descending motor tracts

    The tracts that carry movement commands down the cord. The corticospinal tract for voluntary movement, and the extrapyramidal tracts from the brainstem for posture, balance, tone and corrections.

For learning only. Levels and sizes vary between people; nothing here describes a particular person or gives medical advice. Sources: Betts et al. 2022, §14.3; Lévy et al. 2015; De Leener et al. 2018.