Dorsal column nuclei

In neuroanatomy, the dorsal column nuclei are a pair of nuclei in the dorsal columns in the brainstem. The name refers collectively to the cuneate nucleus and gracile nucleus, which are situated at the lower end of the medulla oblongata. Both nuclei contain second-order neurons of the dorsal column–medial lemniscus pathway, which convey fine touch and proprioceptive information from the body to the brain. The dorsal column nuclei project to the thalamus. The dorsal column nuclei each have an associated nerve tract in the spinal cord, the gracile fasciculus and the cuneate fasciculus. Both dorsal column nuclei contain synapses from afferent nerve fibers that have travelled in the spinal cord. They then send on second-order neurons of the dorsal column–medial lemniscal pathway. Neurons of the dorsal column nuclei eventually reach the midbrain and the thalamus. They send axons that form the internal arcuate fibers. These cross over at the sensory decussation to form the medial lemniscus. They then synapse with third-order neurons of the thalamus. The major nuclei are the cuneate nucleus and gracile nucleus. These are present at the bottom of the medulla oblongata. The gracile nucleus is medial to the cuneate nucleus. Its neurons receive afferent input from dorsal root ganglia sensory neurons of the lower torso and the lower limbs. The gracile nucleus and gracile fasciculus carry epicritic, kinesthetic, and conscious proprioceptive information from the lower part of the body (below the level of T6 in the spinal cord). Because of the large population of neurons in the gracile nucleus they give rise to a raised area called the gracile tubercle on the posterior side of the closed medulla at the floor of the fourth ventricle. The cuneate nucleus is lateral to the gracile nucleus. It carries the same type of information, but from the upper body and the upper limbs (except the face, which is carried by the principal sensory nucleus of trigeminal nerve). The cuneate nucleus is wedge-shaped and located in the closed part of the medulla.

About this result

This page is automatically generated and may contain information that is not correct, complete, up-to-date, or relevant to your search query. The same applies to every other page on this website. Please make sure to verify the information with EPFL's official sources.

Related concepts (15)

Related courses (3)

Related lectures (33)

Related MOOCs (6)

Neuroscience Reconstructed: Cell Biology

This course will provide the fundamental knowledge in neuroscience required to understand how the brain is organised and how function at multiple scales is integrated to give rise to cognition and beh

Neuroscience Reconstructed: Cell Biology

Neuroscience Reconstructed: Genetics and Brain Development

Efferent and Afferent Estimates of Hand Location

Explores how the CNS integrates hand location estimates from different sources.

Neuroanatomy: Central Nervous System Overview BIO-320: Morphology I

Provides an overview of neuroanatomy, focusing on the central nervous system structures and neuron types.

Spatial Self-Motion Estimation in Cerebellum

Delves into spatial self-motion estimation in the cerebellum and the role of vestibular signals in postural control and reaching.

BIO-320: Morphology I

Ce cours est une préparation intensive à l'examen d'entrée en 3ème année de Médecine. Les matières enseignées sont la morphologie macroscopique (anatomie) , microscopique (histologie) de la tête, du c

BIO-480: Neuroscience: from molecular mechanisms to disease

The goal of the course is to guide students through the essential aspects of molecular neuroscience and neurodegenerative diseases. The student will gain the ability to dissect the molecular basis of

BIOENG-448: Fundamentals of neuroengineering

Neuroengineering is at the frontier between neuroscience and engineering: understanding how the brain works allows developing engineering applications and therapies of high impact, while the design of

Dorsal column nuclei

Internal arcuate fibers

In neuroanatomy, the internal arcuate fibers or internal arcuate tract are the axons of second-order sensory neurons that compose the gracile and cuneate nuclei of the medulla oblongata. These second-order neurons begin in the gracile and cuneate nuclei in the medulla. They receive input from first-order sensory neurons, which provide sensation to many areas of the body and have cell bodies in the dorsal root ganglia of the dorsal root of the spinal nerves.

Spinal cord

The spinal cord is a long, thin, tubular structure made up of nervous tissue, which extends from the medulla oblongata in the brainstem to the lumbar region of the vertebral column (backbone). The backbone encloses the central canal of the spinal cord, which contains cerebrospinal fluid. The brain and spinal cord together make up the central nervous system (CNS). In humans, the spinal cord begins at the occipital bone, passing through the foramen magnum and then enters the spinal canal at the beginning of the cervical vertebrae.