Final answer:
The ventral corticospinal tract is tasked with controlling movements of the trunk and upper legs. It coordinates both sides of the body for movement and posture, particularly influencing the axial muscles of the trunk.
Step-by-step explanation:
The ventral corticospinal tract functions in the control of movements of the upper legs and the trunk. This tract is part of the corticospinal tract, which is a major descending pathway responsible for the conscious or voluntary movements of skeletal muscles. Movements of the body trunk are coordinated by the anterior corticospinal tract, which affects both axial and appendicular (limb) muscles but is particularly important for postural muscles that control broad movements of the body. The ventral corticospinal tract does not decussate at the level of the medulla and thus primarily influences movements on the same side of the body. These axons remain anterior as they travel through the brain stem and spinal cord, synapsing with lower motor neurons in the medial regions of the ventral horn, which control the axial muscles of the trunk.