Somatotopic Arrangement and Location of the Corticospinal Tract in the Brainstem of the Human Brain
Open accessAbstract
The corticospinal tract (CST) is the most important motor pathway in the human brain. Detailed knowledge of CST somatotopy is important in terms of rehabilitative management and invasive procedures for patients with brain injuries. In this study, I conducted a review of nine previous studies of the somatotopical location and arrangement at the brainstem in the human brain. The results of this review indicated that the hand and leg somatotopies of the CST are arranged medio-laterally in the mid to lateral portion of the cerebral peduncle, ventromedial-dorsolaterally in the pontine basis, and medio-laterally in the medullary pyramid. However, few diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) studies have been conducted on this topic, and only nine have been reported: midbrain (2 studies), pons (4 studies), and medulla (1 study). Therefore, further DTI studies should be conducted in order to expand the literature on this topic. In particular, research on midbrain and medulla should be encouraged.
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The CST represents the major fiber bundle for motor functioning, transferring information from multiple cortical areas to the brain stem and spinal cord.
“The CST represents the major fiber bundle for motor functioning, transferring information from multiple cortical areas to the brain stem and spinal cord. 51”
From Physical exercise keeps the brain connected: biking increases white matter integrity in patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls. (2015) · cites this paper as [51]
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- Authors
- Jang, S. H.
- Affiliations
- Yeungnam University College (KR)
- Corresponding author
- Jang, Sung Ho
- ORCID
- Jang, Sung Ho
- Venue
- Yonsei Medical Journal
- Published
- 2011
- Volume
- 52
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 553
- ISSN
- 0513-5796 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC3104450
- OpenAlex
- W2141439424
- Cited by
- 81
- References
- 46
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 12 · 2014: 14 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 5
- FWCI
- 1.48
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Yonsei Medical Journal (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Research Foundation
- National Research Foundation of Korea (KRF-2008-314-E00173)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging › Advanced Neuroimaging Techniques and Applications
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Motor Control and Adaptation
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Anatomy › Medical and Biological Sciences
- Keywords
- corticospinal tract, somatotopic organization, brainstem, cerebral peduncle, medullary pyramids, midbrain, diffusion tensor imaging, motor pathways
- MeSH terms
- Brain Stem, Hand, Humans, Leg, Medulla Oblongata, Pons, Pyramidal Tracts, Tegmentum Mesencephali, Diffusion Tensor Imaging
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