Plasticity of the Central Nervous System Involving Peripheral Nerve Transfer

Figure 1

Neuroplasticity of the motor cortex for excellent clinical outcomes of Oberlin’s procedure. Corticospinal neurons (corticospinal projection A, B, and C) in the primary motor cortex of layer V projecting into the motor neurons in the spinal cord are the ultimate descending pathways responsible for movement control. A portion of corticospinal projections (corticospinal projection C) can simultaneously connect the ulnar (donor nerve) and the musculocutaneous nerves (acceptor nerve). Hence, the motor command of elbow flexion can quickly be transmitted downward along the common pathway Corticospinal projection C to the ulnar nerve after Oberlin’s procedure.