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Pyramidal cells give rise to the only efferents from the cerebral cortex, all of which are excitatory. They often innervate other areas of cortex, and so a proportion has already been
mentioned in the list of afferents (namely, long and short association fibres and commissural fibres)
mentioned in the list of afferents (namely, long and short association fibres and commissural fibres)
1. Short association fibres (e.g. those entering the primary motor cortex from the primary somatosensory cortex) and long association fibres (e.g. those projecting back from the
prefrontal cortex to sensory association areas of the parietal lobe).
2. Commissural fibres running across the corpus callosum, anterior commissure and other minor commissures, to matching areas in the contralateral cortex.
3. Projection fibres, especially
a. corticostriatal (from primary motor and somatosensory cortices to the basal ganglia)
b. corticothalamic (from all areas of cortex to the thalamus)
c. corticopontine (to ipsilateral pontine nuclei)
d. corticonuclear (to contralateral motor and somatic sensory cranial nerve nuclei in the
pons and medulla)
e. corticospinal (to motor neurons of the anterior horn of the spinal cord)
prefrontal cortex to sensory association areas of the parietal lobe).
2. Commissural fibres running across the corpus callosum, anterior commissure and other minor commissures, to matching areas in the contralateral cortex.
3. Projection fibres, especially
a. corticostriatal (from primary motor and somatosensory cortices to the basal ganglia)
b. corticothalamic (from all areas of cortex to the thalamus)
c. corticopontine (to ipsilateral pontine nuclei)
d. corticonuclear (to contralateral motor and somatic sensory cranial nerve nuclei in the
pons and medulla)
e. corticospinal (to motor neurons of the anterior horn of the spinal cord)
