Motor System
The motor system can be divided into two groups of circuits:
pyramidal system: consists of pyramidal neurons within the cerebral cortex that project to lower motorneurons in the brainstem and spinal cord to control voluntary movement
- several cortical areas are involved in the initiation of movement:
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- neuronal activity within supplementary motor area and premotor cortex precedes activity within the primary motor cortex
- neuronal activity in the primary motor cortex is associated with the initiation of movement
- pyramidal neurons within the primary motor cortex project to, and activate, lower motorneurons in the brainstem and spinal cord
- lower motor neurons innervate skeletal muscle controlling contraction of various muscle groups and the movement of body parts (e.g., movement of arm or chewing)