Dorsal columns
Last revised by Yahya Baba on 26 Oct 2021
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Sharma R, Baba Y, Hacking C, et al. Dorsal columns. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 01 Dec 2023) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-55607
Permalink:
rID:
55607
Article created:
17 Sep 2017, Rohit Sharma ◉
Disclosures:
At the time the article was created Rohit Sharma had no recorded disclosures.
View Rohit Sharma's current disclosuresLast revised:
26 Oct 2021, Yahya Baba ◉
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Yahya Baba had no recorded disclosures.
View Yahya Baba's current disclosuresRevisions:
8 times, by 5 contributors - see full revision history and disclosures
Systems:
Sections:
Synonyms:
- Posterior columns
- Posterior column
- Dorsal column
The dorsal columns, or posterior columns, are ascending pathways primarily concerned with sensory function. They are responsible for transmitting vibration, conscious proprioception, and fine (discriminative) touch 1,2.
The dorsal columns are divided two tracts, which are discussed separately 2:
- medial: fasciculus gracilis (column of Goll)
- lateral: fasiculus cuneatus (column of Burdach)
Related pathology
Quiz questions
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References
- 1. Gates P. Clinical neurology: a primer 1st ed. Elsevier Australia; 2010.
- 2. Waxman SG. Clinical neuroanatomy 27th ed. McGraw Hill; 2013.
Incoming Links
Articles:
- Leukoencephalopathy with brainstem and spinal cord involvement and lactate elevation
- Dorsal cord syndrome
- Inverted "V" sign (spinal cord)
- Subacute combined degeneration of the cord
- Spinal cord
- Gracile fasciculus
- Neurosyphilis
- Cuneate fasciculus
- Sjögren syndrome
- Nitrous oxide toxicity
- Wallerian degeneration
- Brown-Séquard syndrome
- Rule of 4 of the brainstem
- Central cord syndrome
- Medial lemniscus
- Symmetrical cerebral T2 hyperintensities
- Copper deficiency myeloneuropathy
- Friedreich ataxia
- White matter tracts of the spinal cord
Cases:
- Subacute combined degeneration of the cord
- Ascending spinal tracts (Gray's illustration)
- Spinal cord cross section (Gray's illustration)
- Subacute combined degeneration of the cord
- Leukoencephalopathy with brainstem and spinal cord involvement and lactate elevation (LBSL)
- Demyelinating plaque - dorsal column
Multiple choice questions:
Related articles: Anatomy: Spine
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osteology
- vertebrae
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- sacrum
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anatomical variants
- vertebral body
- neural arch
- transitional vertebrae
- ossicles
- ossification centers
- intervertebral disc
- articulations
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suboccipital muscle group
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- obliquus capitis superior muscle
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suboccipital muscle group
- spinal meninges and spaces
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spinal cord
- gross anatomy
-
white matter tracts (white matter)
- corticospinal tract
- anterolateral columns
- lateral columns
-
dorsal columns
- fasiculus gracilis (column of Goll)
- fasiculus cuneatus (column of Burdach)
- grey matter
- nerve root
- central canal
- functional anatomy
- spinal cord blood supply
- sympathetic chain
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