The precentral gyrus is the strip of frontal cortex directly in front of the central sulcus, running from the top of the hemisphere down to the lateral sulcus. It contains the primary motor cortex (Brodmann area 4), arranged as a motor map of the opposite side of the body. Its continuation onto the medial surface forms the front of the paracentral lobule.
| Location | Frontal lobe, immediately anterior to the central sulcus, bounded in front by the precentral sulcus |
|---|---|
| Parts |
|
| Connections | |
| Blood Supply | Middle cerebral artery (face and arm areas); Anterior cerebral artery (leg area) |
Sends the main commands for voluntary movement to the brainstem and spinal cord, controlling the force and direction of movements on the opposite side of the body.
Damage causes weakness of the opposite side of the body in a pattern that matches the motor map: lateral lesions affect the face and hand, while medial lesions affect the leg. Seizures starting here may spread along the map from hand to arm to face (Jacksonian march). Surgeons map this gyrus with electrical stimulation to avoid paralysis during tumour or epilepsy surgery.
Infarction of the precentral gyrus causing weakness of the opposite face, arm or leg according to the part of the gyrus involved.
Jerking of a body part on the opposite side, sometimes spreading in a Jacksonian march.
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