The human pyramidal tract. XV. A study of axons in selected cases with congenital cerebral malformations
✍ Scribed by A. M. Lassek
- Publisher
- John Wiley and Sons
- Year
- 1946
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 426 KB
- Volume
- 85
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0021-9967
No coin nor oath required. For personal study only.
✦ Synopsis
The morphological and physiological status of the pyramidal neurons apparently has not been investigated extensively under all the various pathological entities. Considerable information might be gained regarding the true role of pyramidal neurons in human neurology by studying their anatomical condition in hemorrhages, tumors, inflammations, toxic states, trauma and embryological defects.
I n the last named category, namely " embryological defects, " very few investigations have been made concerned directly with the pyramidal tract. There have been a number of views advanced, largely speculative, to explain congenital paralyses which are directly referable to the great motor bundle. These are the following: agenesis; failure of the nerve fibers to develop to their normal diameters; lack of development of a full number of fibers ; arrestment of growth so that the fibers do not extend to their full length in the spinal cord and finally destruction of fibers. There have also been some cases reported where no visible pathology could be noted anywhere in the pyramidal tract (Rhein, '13 ; Ford, '26).
' I am deeply grateful to Dr. K. Scharenberg, of the neuropathology department at the University of Michigan School of Medicine, f o r his cooperation in supplying the specimens from his splendid collection and for permission to use the neuropathological reports for this study.
This study was aided by a grant from the Committee on Scientific Re-~earch of the American Medical Association.