Dorsal columns
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Sharma R, Baba Y, Hacking C, et al. Dorsal columns. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 14 Jan 2025) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-55607
Permalink:
rID:
55607
Article created:
Disclosures:
At the time the article was created Rohit Sharma had no recorded disclosures.
View Rohit Sharma's current disclosures
Last revised:
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Rohit Sharma had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.
View Rohit Sharma's current disclosures
Revisions:
9 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
See dorsal cord syndrome for an extensive discussion of differential diagnoses.
Quiz questions
{"containerId":"expandableQuestionsContainer","displayRelatedArticles":true,"displayNextQuestion":true,"displaySkipQuestion":true,"articleId":55607,"questionManager":null,"mcqUrl":"https://radiopaedia.org/articles/dorsal-columns/questions/906?lang=us"}
References
- 1. Gates P. Clinical Neurology. (2010) ISBN: 9780729539357 - Google Books
- 2. Waxman SG. Clinical Neuroanatomy 27/E. (2013) ISBN: 9780071797979 - Google Books
Incoming Links
Articles:
- Dorsal cord syndrome
- Sulcal artery syndrome
- Inverted "V" sign (spinal cord)
- Spinal cord
- Cuneate fasciculus
- Lhermitte sign (spinal cord)
- Miller Fisher syndrome
- Nitrous oxide toxicity
- Wallerian degeneration
- Brown-Séquard syndrome
- Methotrexate-induced myelopathy
- Friedreich ataxia
- Leukoencephalopathy with brainstem and spinal cord involvement and lactate elevation
- Adult polyglucosan body disease
- Ventral cord syndrome
- Subacute combined degeneration of the cord
- Gracile fasciculus
- Neurosyphilis
- Sjögren syndrome
- Rule of 4 of the brainstem
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
-
osteology
- vertebrae
- spinal canal
- cervical spine
- thoracic spine
- lumbar spine
- sacrum
- coccyx
-
anatomical variants
- vertebral body
- neural arch
- transitional vertebrae
- ossicles
- ossification centers
- intervertebral disc
- articulations
- ligaments
- musculature of the vertebral column
- muscles of the neck
- muscles of the back
-
suboccipital muscle group
- rectus capitis posterior major muscle
- rectus capitis posterior minor muscle
- obliquus capitis superior muscle
- obliquus capitis inferior muscle
- splenius capitis muscle
- splenius cervicis muscle
- erector spinae group
- transversospinalis group
- quadratus lumborum muscle
-
suboccipital muscle group
- spinal meninges and spaces
-
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
Unable to process the form. Check for errors and try again.