What type of movement does the corticospinal tract primarily control?

The corticospinal tract is primarily responsible for controlling fine voluntary movements, particularly those associated with skilled activities like writing, typing, or playing a musical instrument. This tract is a major pathway that carries motor commands from the brain's cortex to the spinal cord. Its fibers descend through the brainstem and decussate, or cross over, before reaching the spinal cord.

The pathway is particularly significant for the manipulation of precise movements, especially in the hands and fingers. It enables the coordination and execution of detailed motor tasks, which are crucial for activities that require a high degree of dexterity. In contrast, other types of movements, such as involuntary reflexes, gross motor skills, or autonomic motor functions, involve different neural pathways and mechanisms. These pathways may utilize other motor tracts, such as the extrapyramidal tracts for gross motor control or spinal reflex arcs for involuntary responses.