PHYSIOLOGY OF MOTOR TRACTS

PROF. FATEN ZAKAREIA

PHYSIOLOGY DEPARTMENT , COLLEGE OF
MEDICINE , KING SAUD UNIVERSITY
2015
OBJECTIVES:
UPON COMPLETION OF THIS LECTURE, STUDENTS SHOULD BE
ABLE TO DESCRIBE :
- THE UPPER AND LOWER MOTOR NEURONS
- THE PATHWAY OF PYRAMIDAL TRACTS (CORTICOSPINAL &
CORTICOBULBAR TRACTS)
- THE LATERAL AND VENTRAL CORTICOSPINAL TRACTS.
- FUNCTIONAL ROLE OF CORTICOSPINAL & CORTICOBULBAR
TRACTS
-STATIC AND DYNAMIC SIGNALS OF PYRAMIDAL TRACTS
- THE EXTRAPYRAMIDAL TRACTS AS RUBROSPINAL ,
VESTIBULOSPINAL ,RETICULOSPINAL AND TECTSPINAL TRACTS.
UPPER & LOWER MOTOR NEURONS

1-UPPER MOTOR NEURONS (UMN):-

- NEURONS OF MOTOR CORTEX & THEIR AXONS THAT PASS TO BRAIN
STEM AND SPINAL CORD TO ACTIVATE ( BRAIN STEM NEURONS) CRANIAL
& SPINAL MOTOR NEURONS

-THERE ARE TWO UMN SYSTEMS :

1- PYRAMIDAL SYSTEM (CORTICOSPINAL TRACTS ).
2- EXTRAPYRAMIDAL SYSTEM

2- LOWER MOTORV NEURONS(LMN)

SPINAL MOTOR NEURONS (AHCS)IN THE SPINAL CORD & CRANIAL
MOTOR NEURONS IN THE BRAIN STEM THAT INNERVATE MUSCLES
DIRECTLY
Descending Tracts
-1-CORTICOSPINAL (PYRAMIDAL TRACTS )&
CORTICOBULBAR TRACTS;-

-ORIGIN/
1- 30% MOTOR AREA 4 ( THE PRIMARY MOTOR AREA) ( M1) . OCCUPIES THE PRECENTRAL
GYRUS.

2- 30% FROM THE PREMOTOR AREAS & SUPPLEMETARY CORTEX

- PREMOTOR AREA:- (MOTOR ASSOCIATION AREA) LIES IN FRONT OF THE PRIMARY MOTOR AREA & BELOW
SUPPLEMENTARY MOTOR AREA. ITS STIMULATION PRODUCES COMPLEX COORDINATED
MOVEMENTS, SUCH AS SETTING THE BODY IN A CERTAIN POSTURE TO PERFORM A SPECIFIC TASK.

- SUPPLEMETARY CORTEX IS A SMALL AREA LOCATED ON THE LATERAL SIDE OF THE BRAIN IN FRONT OF
AREA 4 AND ABOVE THE PRE-MOTOR AREA & EXTENDS ON MEDIAL SIDE OF THE CEREBRAL HEMISPHERE.
• THIS AREA PROJECTS MAINLY TO M1 AND IS CONCERNED WITH PLANNING , PROGRAMMING MOTOR
SEQUENCES& BIMANUAL ACTIVITY

3- 40% PARIETAL CORTEX ( SOMATIC SENSORY AREA 3,1,2)

CONT//

• 3% of the pyramidal fibres are large myelinated, derived from

the large ,giant, highly excitable pyramidal Betz cells in motor
area 4.
-The Betz cells fibers transmit nerve impulses to the
spinal cord at a velocity of about 70 m/sec,
-The other 97 % are mainly smaller fibers conduct tonic
signals to the motor areas of the cord.
- - - The axons from the giant Betz cells send short
collaterals back to the cortex itself to inhibit adjacent
regions of the cortex when the Betz cells discharge,
thereby “sharpening” the excitatory signal.
CONT//-
- • - Fibers from the cerebral cortex descend in >>>>CORONA
RADIATA to >>>>INTERNAL CAPSULE genu and the anterior
two-third of the posterior limb >>>>>>BRAIN STEM
( midbrain,pons,medulla oblongata) m then divide into:-
1-Corticobulbar tract terminates on LMNs ( cranial nerve motor
nuclei of opposite side &carries information to them)
(decussating just before they reach their target nuclei .)-

2- Corticospinal tracts (pyramidal) descends through the

midbrain and pons.•
- Then in the lower medulla oblongata the fibers form pyramids
so tracts originate from them are called pyramidal tract
Origin – Sensory cortex, primary Motor Cortex, premotor & supplementary cortex
(40%) (30%) (30%)

Internal Capsule

Cerebral Peduncle (midbarain)

Pons

Medullary Pyramid

Pyramidal Decussation

Lat.Cross & Vent. Uncross White matter in spinal cord

Ant. Horn of spinal cord through a interconnection

α motor neuron of opposite side

- PYRAMIDAL TRACTS = CORTICOSPINAL TRACTS DIVIDES
INTO:_

1- LATERAL CORTICOSPINAL TRACTS :-

- THESE ARE 80% OF FIBERS THAT CROSS MIDLINE IN PYRAMIDS

-THE FIBERS OF THE CORTICOSPINAL TRACT TERMINATE AT DIFFERENT LEVELS IN

INTERNEURONS OF THE GREY MATTER &SOME ENDS AT SENSORY NEURONS OF
DORSAL HORN & A VERY FEW TERMINATE DIRECTLY ON THE ANTERIOR
MOTOR NEURONS THAT CAUSE MUSCLE CONTRACTION.
. HERE THE LOWER MOTOR NEURONS (LMN) OF THE CORTICOSPINAL CORD ARE
LOCATED. THEN PERIPHERAL MOTOR NERVES CARRY THE MOTOR IMPULSES FROM

AHCS MOTOR NEURONS TO THE VOLUNTARY MUSCLES

- AS THE FIBERS PASS LATERALLY IN SPINAL CORD WHITE MATTER, SO THEY
CONTROL DISTAL LIMB MUSCLES

FUNCTION//- CONTROLS FINE DISCRETE SKILLED MOVEMENTS OF FINGERS AND

TOES.
 2- ventral (anterior) corticospinal tracts :-

 - Remaining 20% fibers does not cross midline

- Cross at level of termination to synapse with interneurons , that synapse with
motor neurons (AHCs) of opposite side specially in in the neck or in the
upper thoracic region.

 -Pass medially in ventral horn so control axial & proximal limb muscles&may
be concerned with control of bilateral postural movements

NB/So both corticospinal tract( ANT& LAT) supply skeletal muscles of the opposite
side
FUNCTIONS OF CORTICOSPINAL TRACTS:-
1-INITIATION OF FINE ,DISCRETE, SKILLED VOLUNTARY
MOVEMENTS .(ON WHICH SIDE?)

2- LATERAL CORTICOSPINAL TRACTS (MAIN BULK OF THE TRACT) CONTROL

DISTAL MUSCLES OF LIMB AS FINGERS & THUMB& TOES WHICH

CONCERNED WITH FINE SKILLED MOVEMENT) E.G PAINTING
,WRITING, PICKING UP OF A SMALL OBJECT ETC.

3- VENTRAL CORTICOSPINAL TRACTS CONTROL POSTURE OF

AXIAL & PROXIMAL MUSCLE FOR BALANCE, CLIMBING, WALKING
4- Effect on stretch reflex:-
- Faccilitate muscle tone through gamma motor neurons
5- those fibers originate from parietal lobe are for sensory-
motor coordination
6- corticobulbar tracts /control face & neck muscles &
faccilitate their tone, and are involved in facial
expression, mastication, swallowing.
-NB/ In the cervical enlargement of the cord where the hands and fingers
are represented, large numbers of corticospinal and rubrospinal fibers
terminate directly on the AHCs to activate direct hands and fingers
muscle contraction.
This is in keeping with the fact that the primary motor cortex has an
extremely high degree of representation for fine control of hand, finger,
and thumb actions.
Excitation of the Spinal Cord Motor Areas by the Primary Motor
Cortex and Red Nucleus
-Vertical Columnar Arrangement of the Neurons in the Motor Cortex
with thousands of neurons in each column.
-each column has six distinct layers of cells,
-Layer 5 ( from cortical surface) give origin for the pyramidal cells -
that give rise to the corticospinal fibers
- the input signals enter cortex by way of layers 2 and 4. -
- sixth layer gives rise to fibers that communicate with other regions -
of the cerebral cortex .
-Function of Each Column of Neurons.
Each column of cells functions as an integrative processing -
unit& as an amplifying system to stimulate large numbers of
pyramidal fibers to the same muscle or to synergistic muscles
simultaneously.
- Use information from multiple input sources to determine the -
output response
Dynamic and Static Signals Are Transmitted by the Pyramidal Neurons.
If a strong signal is sent to a muscle to cause initial rapid contraction, then
a much weaker continuing signal can maintain the contraction for long
periods thereafter.
-To do this, each column of cells excites two populations of pyramidal
cell neurons:-
1-dynamic neurons.
-The dynamic neurons are excited at a high rate for a short period at the
beginning of a contraction, causing the initial rapid development of force.
2- static neurons ( greater percentage in the primary motor cortex
-They fire at a much slower rate & continue firing at this slow rate to maintain
the force of contraction as long as the contraction is required.

N.B//-The neurons of the red nucleus have a greater percentage of dynamic

and lesser static neurons,.
-This may be related to the fact that the red nucleus is closely allied with the
cerebellum, which plays an important role in rapid initiation of muscle
contraction
Removal of the Primary Motor Cortex (Area Pyramidalis).

Area Pyramidalis is essential for voluntary initiation of finely controlled -

movements, especially of the hands and fingers & contains the giant Betz
pyramidal cells
-Its removal causes varying degrees of paralysis of the represented muscles. -
-If the adjacent premotor and supplementary motor areas are not damaged, gross
postural and limb “fixation” movements can still occur, but there is loss of voluntary
control of discrete movements of the distal segments of the limbs, especially of the
hands and fingers (the hand and finger muscles can contract; but, the ability to control
the fine movements is gone)
-

-The primary motor cortex normally exerts a continual tonic stimulatory effect on
the motor neurons of the spinal cord; when this stimulatory effect is removed,
hypotonia results.
Effect of Lesions in the Motor Cortex or in the Corticospinal Pathway—The
“Stroke”
The motor control system can be damaged by the “stroke.”
1- Heamorrhagic
2- Thrombotic
-the result is loss of blood supply to the cortex or to the corticospinal tract where
it passes spastic hemiplegia.
Muscle Spasticity Caused by Lesions That Damage Large Areas Adjacent
to the Motor Cortex.

-Most lesions of the motor cortex, especially caused by a stroke, involve not
only the primary motor cortex but also adjacent parts of the brain such as the
basal ganglia.
In these instances, muscle spasm almost occurs in the afflicted muscle -
areas on the opposite side of the body .
-This spasm results mainly from damage to accessory pathways from the non -
pyramidal portions of the motor cortex & basal ganglia which normally
inhibit the vestibular and reticular brain stem motor nuclei.
-When these nuclei cease their state of inhibition (i.e., are “disinhibited”), they
become spontaneously active and cause excessive spastic tone in the involved
muscles..
-EXTRAPYRAMIDAL TRACTS :-
TRACTS OTHER THAN CORTICOSPINAL TRACT & ARE OUTSIDE PYRAMIDS

ORIGIN/ MOTOR AREA 4, PREMOTOR AREA 6, 4 SUPPRESSOR >>>>CORONA

RADIATA>>>>INTERNAL CAPSULE>>>>BASAL GANGLA>>BRAIN
STEM >>>BULBOSPINAL TRACTS DESCEND TO SPINAL CORD :-
A- RUBROSPINAL TRACT.
B- VESTIBULOSPINAL TRACT.
C- RETICULOSPINAL TRACT
D- TECTSPINAL TRACT.
E- OLIVOSPINAL TRACT
EXTRAPYRAMIDAL SYSTEM :

(1) SETS THE POSTURAL BACKGROUND NEEDED FOR PERFORMANCE OF SKILLED MOVEMENTS

(2) CONTROLS SUBCONSCIOUS GROSS MOVEMENTS

.
1-RUBROSPINAL TRACTS:-

- THE RED NUCLEUS LOCATED IN THE MESENCEPHALON

-IT RECEIVES DIRECT FIBERS FROM THE PRIMARY MOTOR CORTEX THROUGH THE
CORTICORUBRAL TRACT
-THESE FIBERS SYNAPSE IN THE LOWER PORTION OF THE RED NUCLEUS, THE
MAGNOCELLULAR PORTION, WHICH CONTAINS LARGE NEURONS SIMILAR IN SIZE TO
THE BETZ CELLS .
-THESE LARGE NEURONS THEN GIVE RISE TO THE RUBROSPINAL TRACT, WHICH
CROSSES TO THE OPPOSITE SIDE IN THE LOWER BRAIN STEM AND FOLLOWS A COURSE
ADJACENT TO THE CORTICOSPINAL TRACT INTO THE LATERAL COLUMNS OF THE
SPINAL CORD.

- THE RUBROSPINAL FIBERS TERMINATE MOSTLY ON INTERNEURONS OF THE

CORD GRAY MATTER, ALONG WITH THE CORTICOSPINAL FIBERS, BUT SOME OF THE
RUBROSPINAL FIBERS TERMINATE DIRECTLY ON ANTERIOR MOTOR NEURONS,

-THE RED NUCLEUS ALSO HAS CLOSE CONNECTIONS WITH THE CEREBELLUM
-
Function of the Corticorubrospinal System.

-The magnocellular portion of the red nucleus has a somatographic

representation of all the muscles of the body,.
Stimulation of a single point in this portion of the red nucleus causes contraction of
either a single muscle or a small group of muscles.

-The corticorubrospinal pathway serves as an accessory route for transmission of

discrete signals from the motor cortex to the spinal cord.
When the corticospinal fibers are destroyed , discrete movements can still occur, except
that the movements for fine control of the fingers and hands are considerably
impaired
-Wrist movements are still functional, which is not the case when the
corticorubrospinal pathway is also blocked.
-Rubrospinal tract lies in the lateral columns of the spinal cord so control the more distal
muscles of the limbs.
-The corticospinal and rubrospinal tracts together are called
the lateral motor system of the cord,
-Vestibuloreticulospinal system, which lies medially in the cord is called the medial
motor system of the cord
2- VESTIBULOSPINAL TRACTS:
-
-FROM VESTIBULAR NUCLEUS. FIBERS ORIGINATE IN VESTIBULAR NUCLEI
IN PONS (WHICH RECEIVE INPUTS FROM INNER EAR ,VESTIBULARAPPARATUS
AND CEREBELLUM)
-AXONS DESCEND IN THE IPSILATERAL VENTRAL WHITE COLUMN OF SPINAL
CORD
-FUNCTIONS:-
1- CONTROLS POSTURAL & RIGHTING REFLEXES.
2-EXCITATORY TO IPSILATERAL SPINAL MOTOR NEURONS-THAT SUPPLY
AXIAL & POSTURAL MUSCLES
3- CONTROL EYE MOVEMENTS
 FUNCTIONS OF VESTIBULOSPINAL TRACTS

• THE LATERAL VESTIBULOSPINAL

• CELLS OF ORIGIN : LATERAL VESTIBULAR NUCLEUS

• AXONS DESCEND IN THE VENTRAL WHITE COLUMN OF SPINAL CORD
.
• THIS TRACT MEDIATES EXCITATORY INFLUENCES UPON EXTENSOR
MOTOR NEURONES TO MAINTAIN POSTURE

• THE MEDIAL VESTIBULOSPINAL TRACT :

• CELLS OF ORIGIN : MEDIAL VESTIBULAR NUCLEUS

• AS ITS AXONS DECSEND IN THE VENTRAL WHITE COLUMN OF SPINAL
CORD TO END AT THE CERVICAL SEGMENTS OF THE SPINAL CORD,
SOME FIBERS FORM PART OF THE MEDIAL LONGITUDINAL
FASCICULUS FIBERS IN BRAIN STEM THAT LINK VESTIBULAR NUCLEI
TO NUCLEI SUPPLYING THE EXTRA-OCULAR MUSCLES.
FUNCTION//FOR COORDINATION OF HEAD AND EYE MOVEMENTS

I
ROLE OF THE VESTIBULAR NUCLEI TO EXCITE THE ANTIGRAVITY MUSCLES
1-ALL THE VESTIBULAR NUCLEI, FUNCTION IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE PONTINE
RETICULAR NUCLEI TO CONTROL THE ANTIGRAVITY MUSCLES.

2-THE VESTIBULAR NUCLEI TRANSMIT STRONG EXCITATORY SIGNALS TO THE

ANTIGRAVITY MUSCLES BY WAY OF THE LATERAL AND MEDIAL VESTIBULOSPINAL
TRACTS IN THE ANTERIOR COLUMNS OF THE SPINAL CORD.

-WITHOUT THIS SUPPORT OF THE VESTIBULAR NUCLEI, THE PONTINE RETICULAR

SYSTEM WOULD LOSE MUCH OF ITS EXCITATION OF THE AXIAL ANTIGRAVITY
MUSCLES.
3-THE SPECIFIC ROLE OF THE VESTIBULAR NUCLEI, HOWEVER, IS TO
SELECTIVELY CONTROL THE EXCITATORY SIGNALS TO THE ANTIGRAVITY
MUSCLES TO MAINTAIN EQUILIBRIUM IN RESPONSE TO SIGNALS FROM THE
VESTIBULAR APPARATUS.
3- Tectospinat tracts:-
-from superior (VISUAL) & inferior colliculi
(AUDITORY) of midbrain
- Ends on Contralateral cervical motor neurons
Function: Mediate/facilitate turning of the
head in response to visual or Auditory stimuli
4- RETICULOSPINAL TRACT :-
-THE RETICULAR FORMATION MAKES UP A CENTRAL CORE OF
THE BRAINSTEM. IT CONTAINS MANY DIFFERENT NEURONAL
GROUPS.
-PONTINE AND MEDULLARY NUCLEI PROJECTS TO THE AHCS
OF THE SPINAL CORD VIA RETICULOSPINAL TRACT

FUNCTIONS:
1-INFLUENCE MOTOR FUNCTIONS AS VOLUNTARY & REFLEX
MOVEMENT
2-EXCITATORY OR INHIBITORY TO MUSCLE TONE
TYPES OF RETICULOSPINAL TRACTS:-

(1) PONTINE (MEDIAL) RETICULOSPINAL TRACT:

• CELLS OF ORIGIN: PONTINE RETICULAR FORMATION WHICH HAVE A HIGH DEGREE OF NATURAL
EXCITABILITY. IN ADDITION, THEY RECEIVE STRONG EXCI-TATORY SIGNALS FROM THE VESTIBULAR NUCLEI &
FROM DEEP NUCLEI OF THE CEREBELLUM.
- WHEN THE PONTINE RETICULAR EXCITATORY SYSTEM IS UNOPPOSED BY THE MEDULLARY RETICULAR
SYSTEM, IT CAUSES POWERFUL EXCITATION OF ANTIGRAVITY MUSCLES
• AXONS DESCEND IN ANTERIOR(VENTRAL )WHITE COLUMN OF SPINAL CORD

• PONTINE RETICULOSPINAL TRACT INCREASES GAMMA EFFERENT ACTIVITY ,( EXCITATORY TO

AXIAL & ANTI-GRAVITY, EXTENSOR MUSCLES OF THE BODY= INCREASES MUSCLE TONE )

(2) MEDULLARY (LATERAL) RETICULOSPINAL TRACT:

• CELLS OF ORIGIN: MEDULLARY RETICULAR FORMATION
• AXONS DESCEND IN LATERAL WHITE COLUMN OF SPINAL CORD ON BOTH SIDES
-IT RECEIVE STRONG INPUT FROM (1) THE CORTICOSPINAL TRACT, (2) THE RUBROSPINAL TRACT, AND (3)
OTHER MOTOR PATHWAYS.
THESE INPUTS ACTIVATE THE MEDULLARY RETICULAR INHIBITORY SYSTEM TO COUNTERBALANCE THE
EXCITATORY SIGNALS FROM THE PONTINE RETICULAR SYSTEM, SO UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS THE BODY
MUSCLES ARE NOT ABNORMALLY TENSE.

• MEDULLARY RETICULOSPINAL TRACT, INHIBITS GAMMA EFFERENT ACTIVITY (

TRANSMIT INHIBITORY SIGNALS TO ANTIGRAV ITY EXTENSOR MUSCLES= DECREASES MUSCLE TONE ) .
-
- SOME SIGNALS FROM HIGHER AREAS OF THE BRAIN CAN
“DISINHIBIT” THE MEDULLARY SYSTEM WHEN THE BRAIN
WISHES TO EXCITE THE PONTINE SYSTEM TO CAUSE
STANDING.
-AT OTHER TIMES, EXCITATION OF THE MEDULLARY
RETICULAR SYSTEM CAN INHIBIT ANTIGRAVITY MUSCLES
IN CERTAIN PORTIONS OF THE BODY TO ALLOW THOSE
PORTIONS TO PERFORM SPECIAL MOTOR ACTIVITIES.
- THE EXCITATORY AND INHIBITORY RETICULAR NUCLEI
CONSTITUTE A CONTROLLABLE SYSTEM THAT IS
MANIPULATED BY MOTOR SIGNALS FROM THE CEREBRAL
CORTEX TO PROVIDE NECESSARY BACKGROUND
MUSCLE CONTRACTIONS FOR STANDING AGAINST
GRAVITY
5-OLIVOSPINAL TRACT :- IT ARISES
FROM INFERIOR OLIVARY N OF THE
MEDULLA & IS FOUND ONLY IN THE
CERVICAL REGION OF THE SPINAL
CORD (SUPPLY NECK MUSCLES) OF
UNKNOWN FUNCTION
- SECONDARY OLIVOCEREBELLAR FIBERS
TRANSMIT SIGNALS TO MULTIPLE AREAS
OF THE CEREBELLUM.
 Red Nucleus in Midbrain

Decussation at the level of red nucleus

Pass down through Pons & Medulla

Ends in ant. Horn of spinal cord

Afferent from cerebellum, vestibular
apparatus & vestibular nuclei

Spinal motor neuron

Innervating axial &

postural muscles
Superior & Inferior collicili in
midbrain>>>>>

Near Medial longitudinal fasiculus>>>>

Cervical spinal motor neuron of anterior horn