Final answer:
The ventral route is primarily motor and comes together in the spinal cord. The ventral roots in the spinal cord contain motor neuron axons, while the dorsal roots contain sensory neurons.
Step-by-step explanation:
The ventral route is primarily associated with motor functions. Within the spinal cord, the ventral roots contain only the axons of motor neurons which initiate actions in the muscles and other effector organs. On the other hand, the dorsal root is exclusively for the axons of sensory neurons, which transmit sensory information to the central nervous system (CNS). When considering where these pathways come together, the spinal cord is the key site of convergence where the ventral horn (mainly related to motor functions) and dorsal horn (associated with sensory functions) are located. The spinal cord itself facilitates pathways for both sensory and motor functions between the periphery and the brain, encompassing somatic and autonomic systems.
The brainstem is the part of the brain that connects with the spinal cord and plays a critical role in processing and relaying both motor and sensory signals. The ascending neural pathways, which include sensory information, cross in the brainstem allowing for contralateral control – where one side of the brain controls the opposite side of the body.