The cuneate fasciculus, also known as the fasciculus cuneatus (plural: fasciculi cuneati) or column of Burdach, represents the lateral portion of the dorsal columns and carries input from between and including C1 and T6 ¹. 

Function

The cuneate fasciculus is responsible for transmitting vibration, conscious proprioception, and fine (discriminative) touch sensations from the upper body ¹.

Gross anatomy

Peripheral connections

First-order neurones from peripheral receptors enter the spinal cord via the posterior roots, and unlike first-order neurones from the spinothalamic tract, do not synapse in the posterior posterior grey horn of the cord ¹. Thus, these first-order neurones form the cuneate fasciculus of the dorsal columns if input was from between and including C1 and T6 ¹. If input is from T7 or below, the gracile fasciculus is formed instead, which is discussed separately. 

Course 

Unlike fibres of the spinothalamic tract, these first-order neurones in the cuneate fasciculus continue to ascend without decussation ¹. This ipsilateral ascension continues until the medulla oblongata of the brainstem ¹. Fibres of this tract are somatotopically organised for their entire course ¹.

Upon reaching the cuneate nucleus of the caudal medulla oblongata these first-order neurones terminate and synapse with second-order neurones ¹. These second-order neurones then decussate to the contralateral side, known as the internal arcuate fibres during this decussation ¹. These decussated neurones continue to ascend as part of the medial lemniscus where they terminate in the ventral posterior nucleus of the thalamus ¹. Here, they synapse with third-order neurones ¹. It is these third-order neurones that finally project to the primary somatosensory area on the ipsilateral side of the cerebral cortex ¹.

Related pathology

• intramedullary spinal tumour
• spinal cord injury
• Brown-Séquard syndrome
• transverse myelitis
• multiple sclerosis
• subacute combined degeneration of the cord
• nitrous oxide toxicity
• copper deficiency myeloneuropathy
• neurosyphilis (tabes dorsalis)
• HIV vacuolar myelopathy

History and etymology

Named after Karl Friedrich Burdach (1776-1847), German anatomist ¹

See also

• gracile fasciculus (or column of Goll)