Have you ever wondered what part of your nervous system is helping move the muscles of your body? Or your head?
An important part of our central nervous system called the pyramidal tract is responsible for voluntary movements made by our body. The pyramidal tract is made up of two different tracts: the corticospinal and corticobulbar tracts. The corticospinal tract includes upper motor neurons that start in the cerebral cortex, which is part of the brain, and end in the spinal cord or brainstem. This allows neurons in the corticospinal tract to control voluntary movement of the body and limbs. The muscles of our face, head, and neck are controlled by the very similar corticobulbar tract. Nerves of this tract play important roles in swallowing, movement of the tongue, and in our facial expressions, among other things.