It's frustrating because I don't have much to show for the work I did today. I promise that I spent most of my afternoon writing and that at some point I will get to share that text with you, but not today. So I leave you with a couple neuroanatomy curios and hope to have a more post-worthy day tomorrow.
TIL: The anteriormost portion of the connection between the bulk of the brain with the brainstem, itself called the cerebral peduncles, is known as the crus cerebri. This tract contains the motor fibers that connect the motor cortices, which enable conscious awareness and planning of movement, with the spinal cord, that relays those commands, and the cerebellum, that does all the unconscious dirty work of keeping you balanced and coordinated. (all of this is super simplified)
The muscles of the face and head that can be controlled independently on one side receive innervation primarily from contralateral axons (nerves from the opposite side of the head). Such muscles include the tongue and lower facial muscles. Muscles that can only my stimulated bilaterally, such as the larynx, pharynx, palate and upper facial muscles are generally innervated bilaterally (from both sides). These rules are not very well conserved, as evidenced by weird folks (like myself) that can independently wiggle their ears.
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