The primary motor cortex (Brodmann’s Area 4)lies encompasses the precentral gyrus, including the anterior bank of the central sulcus. It is also called the motor strip. M1 is distinguished by the presence of the giant cells of Betz in layer 5 and has the lowest electrical thresholds for eliciting motor movements. It contributes a large part of the corticospinal and corticonuclear tracts, receives strong projections from = premotor cortex and supplementary motor cortex, and is reciprocally connected to the ventrolateral nucleus of the thalamus.
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