Dorsal column nuclei

This article is about the structure in the medulla oblongata. For the hypothalamic structure, see Arcuate nucleus.
Dorsal column nuclei
Identifiers
NeuroLex IDnlx_153860
Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy
Dorsal column nuclei
Present at the junction between the spinal cord and medulla oblongata, the dorsal column nuclei consist of paired gracile, and cuneate nuclei (labels 6 and 7, respectively).
Details
SystemSomatosensory system
Identifiers
NeuroLex IDnlx_153860
Anatomical terminology

The dorsal column nuclei are a pair of nuclei in the dorsal columns of the dorsal column–medial lemniscus pathway (DCML) in the brainstem.[1] 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 DCML, which convey fine touch and proprioceptive information from the body to the brain via the thalamus.

  1. ^ Standring, Susan (2016). Gray's anatomy: the anatomical basis of clinical practice (41 ed.). Elsevier Limited. pp. 309–330. ISBN 978-0-7020-5230-9.