Anatomy (CNS) · MU Sofia

147. Gray columns of spinal cord. Spinal laminae.

Covers the butterfly-shaped grey matter of the spinal cord and its three functional horns: anterior for somatic motor, intermediate with the lateral horn for visceral motor, and posterior for sensory input. It then describes Rexed's ten laminae, listing the nuclei in each with their fibre types and functions, such as the marginal nucleus, substantia gelatinosa, Clarke's column and Onuf's nucleus. Finally it outlines white matter columns and their ascending and descending tracts, with the lateral, posterior and anterior columns each set out.

Inside: 6 sections · 9 labelled pictures · 10 flashcards · 3 min

Topic 5 of 34 in the MU Sofia syllabus for Anatomy (CNS) (Medicine, Year 2). The free AceMed note covers it in 6 sections, about 482 words (3 min of reading), with 10 flashcards.

In this note

  1. GRAY COLUMNS OF THE SPINAL CORD.
  2. Division :
  3. Lamina :
  4. WHITE SUBSTANCE
  5. Arrangment :
  6. Tracts :

GRAY COLUMNS OF THE SPINAL CORD.

  • The gray matter of the spinal cord is a butterfly-shaped structure made up of neuronal cell bodies, glial cells and neuropile (unmyelinated axons, dendrites & glial cell processes).

inside CNS → nucleus / outside CNS → ganglion

Division :

  • The gray matter can be functionally divided into 3 main regions :
  1. 1. Anterior horn: responsible for somatic motor function.
  • skeletal muscles
  1. 2. Intermediate horn: contain lateral horn (T1-L2) responsible for visceral motor function.
  • heart...
  1. 3. Posterior horn : responsible for sensory functions
  • Somatic sensation: picking up sensations from the skin, skeletal muscles, joints, tendons & ligaments.
  • Visceral Sensation from internal organs.

Lamina :

  • The gray matter of the spinal cord can also be divided into layers (Rexed Lamina)
  • They are 10 laminae in total.

I - VI → Posterior horn

III → Intermediate horn

VIII + IX → Anterior horn

X → Central zone.

There are specific nuclei that are present in each lamina & have specific functions.

  1. 1. Marginal nucleus : (lamina I)
  • Reciving pain /temp. sensation. (fast pain → “A-δ fibers”) via the spinothalamic tract
  1. 2. Substantia gelatinosa of Ronald (II)
  • Reciving pain / temp. sensations (slow pain) → “C-fibers” via spinothalmic tract.
  1. 3. Nucleus proprius (III + IV) :
  • Pain / temp. → “A-δ + C fibers”
  • touch / vibration → “A-β fibers”
  • via propriception .
  1. 4. Lamina (V) :

→ Pain /temp. from the Viscera.

  1. 5. lamin (VI)

→ limb reflexes

  1. 6. Lamina VII
  • Clarks column
  • Interomediomedial nucleus (S2-S4)
  • Interomediolateral nucleus (T1-L2)

→ Sympathetic and parasympathetic preganglion neurons (type of nerve cells that transmit signals from the CNS to ganglia of PNS) for the visceral organs sit in lamina VII.

  1. 7. Lamina VIII :

→ hleps to modulate movement and muscle tone.

  1. 9. lamina X : where axons cross over from one side to another
  1. 8. Lamina IX :
  • Phrenic (C3-C5)
  • Diaphragm
  • Accessory spinal (C1-C6)
  • Sternocleidomastoid
  • Trapezius
  • Onufs nucleus (S2-S4)
  • sphincter (external)

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