Extrapyramidal system

Last revised by Rohit Sharma on 29 Jun 2024

Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data

Citation:

Jones J, Sharma R, j, et al. Extrapyramidal system. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 30 Jun 2024) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-5815

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-5815

Permalink:

https://radiopaedia.org/articles/5815

rID:

5815

Article created:

23 Mar 2009, Jeremy Jones ◉

Disclosures:

At the time the article was created Jeremy Jones had no recorded disclosures.

View Jeremy Jones's current disclosures

Last revised:

29 Jun 2024, Rohit Sharma ◉

Disclosures:

At the time the article was last revised Rohit Sharma had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.

View Rohit Sharma's current disclosures

Revisions:

4 times, by 3 contributors - see full revision history and disclosures

Systems:

Central Nervous System

Sections:

Anatomy

Tags:

refs, stub

Synonyms:

Extrapyramidal motor system

The extrapyramidal system is the part of the motor system involved in modulation and regulation of movement. As its name suggests, it is distinct from the motor fibres that are relayed through the pyramids of the medulla oblongata (corticospinal and corticobulbar tracts).

Although the extrapyramidal system is not well defined ¹, it is generally considered to be composed of nerve cells, nerve tracts and pathways that connect the cerebral cortex, basal ganglia, thalamus, cerebellum, reticular formation, and spinal neurones. Brainstem nuclei of the extrapyramidal system include the red nucleus and substantia nigra.

History and etymology

The term 'extrapyramidal' was introduced by Ukranian physician Johann Prus in 1898 following his observation that even with transection of corticospinal tracts, cortical epileptic activity still resulted in muscle activation ¹.