iLovePhysio
Sign in
Menu
Interactive 2D Anatomy ViewsOpen Public

Motor Pathways & Brainstem Anatomy Atlas

Trace bilateral corticospinal teaching pathways and compare them with cortical, capsular and brainstem source structures.

Browse Courses →

Motor Pathways & Brainstem Anatomy Atlas

Motor pathways / anterior

Model-derived teaching views — not MRI/CT slices. Select a view and inspect its numbered landmarks.

Motor pathways / anterior. Educational render of selected anatomical structures. Left precentral gyrus, Right precentral gyrus, Left cortical origin → opposite cord, Right cortical origin → opposite cord.
100%
Label groups
View teaching note

Descending motor control operates alongside sensory, brainstem and spinal systems. The colored curves illustrate pathway sequence and laterality. They do not depict all motor pathways, tractography, a stroke lesion or an individualized rehabilitation protocol.

Click on any landmark pin above to inspect structure details.

View 1 of 3
Shortcuts: ← →

Anatomical Landmarks in Motor pathways / anterior

StructureDescriptionClinical Relevance
Left precentral gyrusContains primary motor cortex. Corticospinal output also arises outside this gyrus; the colored start regions are not a complete cortical map.Interpret this structure within the complete clinical presentation; the atlas alone does not establish a diagnosis.
Right precentral gyrusCortical motor region in the right hemisphere. After medullary crossing, much of its corticospinal output reaches the left spinal cord.Interpret this structure within the complete clinical presentation; the atlas alone does not establish a diagnosis.
Left cortical origin → opposite cordIllustrates the corona radiata, capsular passage, brainstem descent and pyramidal decussation. Bundles are enlarged and simplified. It omits many collaterals, terminal connections and the anterior corticospinal component. Teaching overlay: simplified authored geometry, not a segmented structure.Interpret this structure within the complete clinical presentation; the atlas alone does not establish a diagnosis.
Right cortical origin → opposite cordIllustrates the corona radiata, capsular passage, brainstem descent and pyramidal decussation. Bundles are enlarged and simplified. It omits many collaterals, terminal connections and the anterior corticospinal component. Teaching overlay: simplified authored geometry, not a segmented structure.Interpret this structure within the complete clinical presentation; the atlas alone does not establish a diagnosis.

How to use this Atlas

  • Use the selector, slider or arrow buttons to select a view.
  • Zoom in and drag to pan. These are 2D images; open the related 3D model for rotation.
  • Label groups control visible pins; they do not remove anatomy from a flattened image.
  • Click on landmark pins to inspect anatomical descriptions and clinical relevance.
  • Keyboard shortcuts: ← and → to step through the atlas, L to toggle labels.
Rights & Attribution

Anatomical meshes: BodyParts3D, © Database Center for Life Science (DBCLS), CC BY-SA 2.1 Japan (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.1/jp/). PhysioLove adapted mesh selection, metric orientation, colors and teaching overlays. Model-derived illustrations share the same license. Added ligament, meniscus and tract geometry is schematic; proportions and pathways are not patient measurements. No independent clinical review recorded.

Sources & further reading

  1. StatPearls. Neuroanatomy, corticospinal cord tract.
  2. Nathan PW et al. The corticospinal tracts in man: course and location of fibres. 1990.
  3. NICE NG236. Stroke rehabilitation in adults: recommendations. 2023.