Neural pathway

A neural pathway is a route through the nervous system formed by connected neurons that transmit signals between regions or structures. Its connections can carry sensory, motor, or regulatory information.

Action potential: A rapid, temporary change in a neuron's membrane voltage that propagates along its axon. Action potentials carry electrical signals along the neurons that make up a pathway.
Neuron: An electrically excitable cell that receives, integrates, and transmits information in the nervous system. Neurons are the cells connected to form neural pathways.
Corticospinal tract: A descending pathway from the cerebral cortex to the spinal cord that supports voluntary movement. It is a well-studied route carrying motor commands toward spinal motor systems.
Reflex arc: A neural circuit that mediates a rapid, often involuntary response to a stimulus. A reflex arc is a functional response circuit, while pathway names emphasize routes between structures.
Synapse: A junction where a neuron communicates with another cell, usually through chemical neurotransmitters or electrical coupling. Synapses connect successive neurons and regulate signal transfer along a pathway.
Dendrite: A branched neuronal projection that receives signals from other cells. Dendrites provide input sites for neurons participating in a pathway.
Dorsal column–medial lemniscus pathway: An ascending sensory pathway carrying fine touch, vibration, and conscious proprioception to the brain. It illustrates how a pathway relays distinct sensory information across multiple structures.
Nerve: A bundle of axons in the peripheral nervous system, surrounded by connective tissue. A nerve is an anatomical bundle; a pathway describes connected routes that may span multiple structures.
Neurotransmitter: A chemical messenger released by neurons that changes the activity of target cells. Neurotransmitters carry signals across many of the connections within pathways.
White matter: Nervous-system tissue rich in myelinated axons that connect distant regions. Many long-range pathways run through white matter tracts.

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Sensory perceptionRelated: Sensory information travels through pathways linking receptors with processing regions.