FIGURE 33c - Tracts of the Ventromedial Pathway

Intro

Figure 33a:	Fibers from Cerebral Cortex | Upper Level of the Medulla | Lower Level of the Medulla | Spinal Cord
Figure 33b:	Cerebral Hemisphere | Midbrain | Medulla and Cerebellum | Spinal Cord
Figure 33c:	Ventromedial Corticospinal Tract | Ventromedial Cortico-Brainstem-Spinal Tract

Part 1: Image-Mapped Tutorial
Part 2: Matching Self-Test: 33a | 33b | 33c
Part 3: Multiple-Choice Self-Test

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The route followed by the Ventromedial Corticospinal Tract was discussed in greater detail with Figure 33a of this tutorial in the description of the ventromedial pathway. This extrapyramidal tract conveys information from the primary motor cortex directly to the motor interneurons located within the ventral horns of the spinal cord. Once the ventromedial corticospinal tract reaches the spinal cord, it branches bilaterally and diffusely to synapse with the motor interneurons spread across several segments of the spinal cord. The motor neurons that are activated by this tract project to the midline muscles of the body trunk and shoulders, controlling whole body movements (e.g., walking, standing up, bending) and maintaining posture.