Final answer:
The dorsolateral motor pathways, including the corticospinal and corticobulbar tracts, control precise voluntary movements and are contralateral, while the ventromedial pathways, such as the tectospinal and vestibulospinal tracts, control posture and are not contralateral.
Step-by-step explanation:
The two dorsolateral motor pathways are the corticospinal tract and the corticobulbar tract, while the two ventromedial motor pathways are the tectospinal tract and the vestibulospinal tract. The dorsolateral pathways are primarily involved in the control of fine, precise voluntary movements, particularly of the distal limbs, by connecting the brain's motor cortex with the spinal cord. In contrast, the ventromedial pathways are responsible for the control of posture and locomotion by mediating involuntary control from brain stem motor centers.
The corticospinal tract is largely contralateral, meaning the fibers cross to the opposite side of the body to control muscles, while the corticobulbar tract is ipsilateral, projecting to the motor nucleus on the same side. The ventromedial pathways do not typically cross over in this manner, reflecting their role in more broadly coordinated whole-body or axial muscle movements.