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Pyramidal Tract Pathway

Pyramidal Tract Pathway

Author: Scott A. Sheffield MS

Last update: Oct 18th, 2022

The pyramidal pathway is one of the main motor pathways in the spinal cord.

Upper level motor neuron:

Primary motor cortex
Internal capsule
Medulla pyramid
Cross over to opposite side
Corticospinal tract of spinal cord
Ventral horn of spinal cord

An image showing action potential moving through the upper motor neuron, Pyramidal Tract Pathway (Internal capsule, Corticospinal tract, Medulla pyramid, Primary motor cortex, Upper motor neuron, Lower motor neuron)

An image showing action potential moving through the upper motor neuron, Pyramidal Tract Pathway (Internal capsule, Corticospinal tract, Medulla pyramid, Primary motor cortex, Upper motor neuron, Lower motor neuron)

An image showing action potential moving through the upper motor neuron, Pyramidal Tract Pathway (Internal capsule, Corticospinal tract, Medulla pyramid, Primary motor cortex, Upper motor neuron, Lower motor neuron)

An image showing action potential moving through the upper motor neuron, Pyramidal Tract Pathway (Internal capsule, Corticospinal tract, Medulla pyramid, Primary motor cortex, Upper motor neuron, Lower motor neuron)

An image showing action potential moving through the upper motor neuron, Pyramidal Tract Pathway (Internal capsule, Corticospinal tract, Medulla pyramid, Primary motor cortex, Upper motor neuron, Lower motor neuron)

An image showing action potential moving through the upper motor neuron, Pyramidal Tract Pathway (Internal capsule, Corticospinal tract, Medulla pyramid, Primary motor cortex, Upper motor neuron, Lower motor neuron)

An image showing action potential moving through the upper motor neuron, Pyramidal Tract Pathway (Internal capsule, Corticospinal tract, Medulla pyramid, Primary motor cortex, Upper motor neuron, Lower motor neuron)

An image showing action potential moving through the upper motor neuron, Pyramidal Tract Pathway (Internal capsule, Corticospinal tract, Medulla pyramid, Primary motor cortex, Upper motor neuron, Lower motor neuron)

An image showing action potential moving through the upper motor neuron, Pyramidal Tract Pathway (Internal capsule, Corticospinal tract, Medulla pyramid, Primary motor cortex, Upper motor neuron, Lower motor neuron)

An image showing action potential moving through the upper motor neuron, Pyramidal Tract Pathway (Internal capsule, Corticospinal tract, Medulla pyramid, Primary motor cortex, Upper motor neuron, Lower motor neuron)

An image showing action potential moving through the upper motor neuron, Pyramidal Tract Pathway (Internal capsule, Corticospinal tract, Medulla pyramid, Primary motor cortex, Upper motor neuron, Lower motor neuron)

An image showing action potential moving through the upper motor neuron, Pyramidal Tract Pathway (Internal capsule, Corticospinal tract, Medulla pyramid, Primary motor cortex, Upper motor neuron, Lower motor neuron)

An image showing action potential moving through the upper motor neuron, Pyramidal Tract Pathway (Internal capsule, Corticospinal tract, Medulla pyramid, Primary motor cortex, Upper motor neuron, Lower motor neuron)

An image showing action potential moving through the upper motor neuron, Pyramidal Tract Pathway (Internal capsule, Corticospinal tract, Medulla pyramid, Primary motor cortex, Upper motor neuron, Lower motor neuron)

An image showing action potential moving through the upper motor neuron, Pyramidal Tract Pathway (Internal capsule, Corticospinal tract, Medulla pyramid, Primary motor cortex, Upper motor neuron, Lower motor neuron)

Lower level motor neuron:

Ventral horn
Spinal nerve
Effector skeletal muscle

Learning about the spinal cord? You’ll also want to understand white and grey matter. Look no further than these interactive quizzes and diagrams!

An image showing action potential moving through the lower motor neuron, Pyramidal Tract Pathway (Internal capsule, Corticospinal tract, Medulla pyramid, Primary motor cortex, Upper motor neuron, Lower motor neuron)

An image showing action potential moving through the lower motor neuron, Pyramidal Tract Pathway (Internal capsule, Corticospinal tract, Medulla pyramid, Primary motor cortex, Upper motor neuron, Lower motor neuron)

An image showing action potential moving through the lower motor neuron, Pyramidal Tract Pathway (Internal capsule, Corticospinal tract, Medulla pyramid, Primary motor cortex, Upper motor neuron, Lower motor neuron)

An image showing action potential moving through the lower motor neuron, Pyramidal Tract Pathway (Internal capsule, Corticospinal tract, Medulla pyramid, Primary motor cortex, Upper motor neuron, Lower motor neuron)

An image showing action potential moving through the lower motor neuron, Pyramidal Tract Pathway (Internal capsule, Corticospinal tract, Medulla pyramid, Primary motor cortex, Upper motor neuron, Lower motor neuron)

An image showing action potential moving through the lower motor neuron, Pyramidal Tract Pathway (Internal capsule, Corticospinal tract, Medulla pyramid, Primary motor cortex, Upper motor neuron, Lower motor neuron)

An image showing action potential moving through the lower motor neuron, Pyramidal Tract Pathway (Internal capsule, Corticospinal tract, Medulla pyramid, Primary motor cortex, Upper motor neuron, Lower motor neuron)

An image showing action potential moving through the lower motor neuron, Pyramidal Tract Pathway (Internal capsule, Corticospinal tract, Medulla pyramid, Primary motor cortex, Upper motor neuron, Lower motor neuron)

An image showing action potential moving through the lower motor neuron, Pyramidal Tract Pathway (Internal capsule, Corticospinal tract, Medulla pyramid, Primary motor cortex, Upper motor neuron, Lower motor neuron)

An image showing action potential moving through the lower motor neuron, Pyramidal Tract Pathway (Internal capsule, Corticospinal tract, Medulla pyramid, Primary motor cortex, Upper motor neuron, Lower motor neuron)

An image showing action potential moving through the lower motor neuron, Pyramidal Tract Pathway (Internal capsule, Corticospinal tract, Medulla pyramid, Primary motor cortex, Upper motor neuron, Lower motor neuron)

An image showing action potential moving through the lower motor neuron, Pyramidal Tract Pathway (Internal capsule, Corticospinal tract, Medulla pyramid, Primary motor cortex, Upper motor neuron, Lower motor neuron)

An image showing action potential moving through the lower motor neuron, Pyramidal Tract Pathway (Internal capsule, Corticospinal tract, Medulla pyramid, Primary motor cortex, Upper motor neuron, Lower motor neuron)

Sekeletal muscle response::

An image showing the muscle response, the action potential passed the pathway, Pyramidal Tract Pathway (Internal capsule, Corticospinal tract, Medulla pyramid, Primary motor cortex, Upper motor neuron, Lower motor neuron)

An image showing the muscle response, the action potential passed the pathway, Pyramidal Tract Pathway (Internal capsule, Corticospinal tract, Medulla pyramid, Primary motor cortex, Upper motor neuron, Lower motor neuron)

An image showing the muscle response, the action potential passed the pathway, Pyramidal Tract Pathway (Internal capsule, Corticospinal tract, Medulla pyramid, Primary motor cortex, Upper motor neuron, Lower motor neuron)

An image showing the muscle response, the action potential passed the pathway, Pyramidal Tract Pathway (Internal capsule, Corticospinal tract, Medulla pyramid, Primary motor cortex, Upper motor neuron, Lower motor neuron)

An image showing the muscle response, the action potential passed the pathway, Pyramidal Tract Pathway (Internal capsule, Corticospinal tract, Medulla pyramid, Primary motor cortex, Upper motor neuron, Lower motor neuron)

Pathway overview:

Test yourself image showing action potential moving through pyramidal tract all numbered and without answers (Internal capsule, Corticospinal tract, Medulla pyramid, Primary motor cortex, Upper motor neuron, Lower motor neuron)

Test yourself image showing action potential moving through pyramidal tract all numbered and answered below (Internal capsule, Corticospinal tract, Medulla pyramid, Primary motor cortex, Upper motor neuron, Lower motor neuron)

Swipe to show hide the answers

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