What happens when the lateral corticospinal tract is damaged?

Injuries to the lateral corticospinal tract results in ipsilateral paralysis (inability to move), paresis (decreased motor strength), and hypertonia (increased tone) for muscles innervated caudal to the level of injury. [2] The lateral corticospinal tract can suffer damage in a variety of ways.

Is the corticospinal tract UMN or LMN?

The corticospinal tract belongs to one of the most important descending tracts of the CNS. It contains fibers from the upper motor neurons to synapse on the lower motor neurons. Upper motor neurons (UMN) can be described as the nerve fibers responsible for the communication between the brain to the spinal cord.

What structures are regulated by the corticospinal tract?

The corticospinal tract is a white matter motor pathway starting at the cerebral cortex that terminates on lower motor neurons and interneurons in the spinal cord, controlling movements of the limbs and trunk.

What are the structural differences between the lateral and ventral corticospinal tracts?

The lateral corticospinal tract primarily controls the movement of muscles in the limbs, while the anterior corticospinal tract is involved with movement of the muscles of the trunk, neck, and shoulders.

What is the corticospinal pathway?

The corticospinal tract, AKA, the pyramidal tract, is the major neuronal pathway providing voluntary motor function. This tract connects the cortex to the spinal cord to enable movement of the distal extremities.

What muscles does the lateral corticospinal tract control?

The lateral corticospinal tract is involved in controlling distal muscles, like those of the limbs. THE LATERAL CORTICOSPINAL TRACT IS REPRESENTED BY THE RED LINE THAT RUNS FROM THE MOTOR CORTEX DOWN TO THE SPINAL CORD.

Is Bell’s palsy UMN or LMN?

Patients with a Bell’s Palsy will present with varying severity of painless unilateral lower motor neuron (LMN) weakness of the facial muscles (Fig. 2). Depending on the severity and the proximity of the nerve affected, it can also result in: Inability to close their eye (temporal and zygomatic branches)

What is the difference between corticospinal and Corticobulbar tracts?

The corticobulbar tract conducts impulses from the brain to the cranial nerves. The corticospinal tract conducts impulses from the brain to the spinal cord. It is made up of a lateral and anterior tract. The corticospinal tract is involved in voluntary movement.

Where do lateral corticospinal tracts Decussate?

Fibers that travel in the lateral corticospinal tract decussate in the pyramidal decussation and continue down to the spinal cord on the contralateral side of the brainstem from where they originated. The lateral corticospinal tract is involved in controlling distal muscles, like those of the limbs.

What is the function of lateral Spinothalamic tract?

The lateral spinothalamic tract, also known as the lateral spinothalamic fasciculus, is an ascending pathway located anterolaterally within the peripheral white matter of the spinal cord. It is primarily responsible for transmitting pain and temperature as well as coarse touch.

Is corticospinal tract ascending or descending?

The lateral corticospinal tract (LCST) is the largest descending motor pathway. It begins in the cerebral cortex, receiving a range of inputs from the primary motor cortex, premotor cortex and supplementary motor areas.

Where does the lateral corticospinal tract cross over?

The lateral corticospinal tract in particular is essential for rapid dexterous movement at individual digits or joints. Most of these pathways cross over from their site of origin and descend in the contralateral spinal cord to control contralateral extremities. That is why the left side of the brain controls the right side of the body.

What is the somatotopic organization of the spinal cord?

The anterolateral pathways of the spinal cords have a somatotopic organization, in which the feet are mostly laterally represented. To help us remember this organization, picture the fibers from the anterior commissure adding medially, as the anterolateral pathway ascends in the spinal cord.

How is the lateral spinothalamic tract organized in the spinal cord?

The lateral spinothalamic tract conveys pain and temperature. In the spinal cord, the spinothalamic tract has somatotopic organization. This is the segmental organization of its cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral components, which is arranged from most medial to most lateral respectively.

Where is the leg somatotopy located in the CST?

In the current study, we found that the hand somatotopy for the CST descended through the middle portion of the CP and that the leg somatotopy was located lateral to the hand somatotopy.