View source for Lateral corticospinal tract

{{Infobox Anatomy |
  Name         = {{PAGENAME}} |
  Latin        = tractus corticospinalis lateralis, fasciculus cerebrospinalis lateralis |
  GraySubject  = 185  |
  GrayPage     = 759 |
  Image        = Medulla spinalis - tracts - English.svg |
  Caption      = Anterior corticospinal tract is 1a, in red at left.  |
  Image2       = |
  Caption2     =|
  System       = |
  Precursor    = |
  MeshName     = |
  MeshNumber   = |
  DorlandsPre  = t_15 |
  DorlandsSuf  = 12816937 |
}}


==Overview==
The '''lateral corticospinal tract''' (also called the '''crossed pyramidal tract''' or '''lateral cerebrospinal fasciculus''') is the largest part of the [[Corticospinal tract|corticospinal tract]]. It extends throughout the entire length of the [[medulla spinalis]], and on transverse section appears as an oval area in front of the [[posterior column]] and medial to the [[posterior spinocerebellar tract]]. 

Its fibres arise from cells in the motor area of the [[cerebral hemisphere]] of the opposite side. 

They pass downward in company with those of the [[anterior corticospinal tract]] through the same side of the brain as that from which they originate, but they cross to the opposite side in the [[medulla oblongata]] and descend in the [[lateral funiculus]] of the [[medulla spinalis]].

The lateral corticospinal tract moves limbs and digits.<ref>Kolb & Whishaw, ''Fundamentals of Human Neuropsychology,'' 2003</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Additional images==
<gallery>
 Image:Gray680.png|Decussation of pyramids.
 Image:Gray687.png|Section of the [[medulla oblongata]] through the lower part of the [[decussation of the pyramids]]
 Image:Gray688.png|Section of the medulla oblongata at the level of the decussation of the pyramids. 
 Image:Gray764.png|The motor tract.
</gallery>

==External links==
* {{BrainInfo|hier|798}}
* {{GPnotebook|-845545463}}
* {{eMedicineDictionary|Lateral+corticospinal+tract}}
* [http://www.thebrain.mcgill.ca/flash/i/i_06/i_06_cl/i_06_cl_mou/i_06_cl_mou.html Overview at thebrain.mcgill.ca]
* {{NeuroanatomyWisc|sc97/text/P4/intro.htm}}


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