Gracile fasciculus

Changed by Tim Luijkx, 25 Jul 2019

Updates to Article Attributes

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The gracile fasciculus, also known as the fasciculus gracilis or (plural: fasciculi graciles) or column of Goll, represents the medial portion of the dorsal columns and carries input from below and including T7 1.

Function

The gracile fasciculus is responsible for transmitting vibration, conscious proprioception, and fine (discriminative) touch sensations from the lower 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 gracile fasciculus of the dorsal columns if input was from T7 or below 1. If input is from between and including C1 and T6, the cuneate fasciculus is formed instead, which is discussed separately. 

Course 

Unlike fibres of the spinothalamic tract, these first-order neurones in the gracile 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 gracile 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

History and etymology

Named after Friedrich Goll (1829-1903), a Swiss anatomist 2.

See also

  • -<p>The <strong>gracile fasciculus</strong>, also known as the <strong>fasciculus gracilis</strong> or <strong>column of Goll</strong>, represents the medial portion of the <a href="/articles/dorsal-columns">dorsal columns</a> and carries input from below and including T7 <sup>1</sup>.</p><h4>Function</h4><p>The gracile fasciculus is responsible for transmitting vibration, conscious proprioception, and fine (discriminative) touch sensations from the lower body <sup>1</sup>.</p><h4>Gross anatomy</h4><h5>Peripheral connections</h5><p>First-order neurones from peripheral receptors enter the <a href="/articles/spinal-cord">spinal cord</a> via the posterior roots, and unlike first-order neurones from the <a href="/articles/spinothalamic-tracts">spinothalamic tract</a>, do not synapse in the posterior posterior grey horn of the cord <sup>1</sup>. Thus, these first-order neurones form the gracile fasciculus of the <a href="/articles/dorsal-columns">dorsal columns</a> if input was from T7 or below <sup>1</sup>. If input is from between and including C1 and T6, the <a href="/articles/cuneate-fasciculus-1">cuneate fasciculus</a> is formed instead, which is discussed separately. </p><h5>Course </h5><p>Unlike fibres of the <a href="/articles/spinothalamic-tracts">spinothalamic tract</a>, these first-order neurones in the gracile fasciculus continue to ascend without decussation <sup>1</sup>. This ipsilateral ascension continues until the <a href="/articles/medulla-oblongata">medulla oblongata</a> of the <a href="/articles/brainstem">brainstem</a> <sup>1</sup>. Fibres of this tract are somatotopically organised for their entire course <sup>1</sup>.</p><p>Upon reaching the gracile nucleus of the caudal <a href="/articles/medulla-oblongata">medulla oblongata</a> these first-order neurones terminate and synapse with second-order neurones <sup>1</sup>. These second-order neurones then decussate to the contralateral side, known as the internal arcuate fibres during this decussation <sup>1</sup>. These decussated neurones continue to ascend as part of the <a href="/articles/medial-lemniscus">medial lemniscus</a> where they terminate in the ventral posterior nucleus of the <a href="/articles/thalamus">thalamus</a> <sup>1</sup>. Here, they synapse with third-order neurones <sup>1</sup>. It is these third-order neurones that finally project to the primary somatosensory area on the ipsilateral side of the cerebral cortex <sup>1</sup>.</p><h4>Related pathology</h4><ul>
  • +<p>The <strong>gracile fasciculus</strong>, also known as the <strong>fasciculus gracilis</strong> (plural: fasciculi graciles) or <strong>column of Goll</strong>, represents the medial portion of the <a href="/articles/dorsal-columns">dorsal columns</a> and carries input from below and including T7 <sup>1</sup>.</p><h4>Function</h4><p>The gracile fasciculus is responsible for transmitting vibration, conscious proprioception, and fine (discriminative) touch sensations from the lower body <sup>1</sup>.</p><h4>Gross anatomy</h4><h5>Peripheral connections</h5><p>First-order neurones from peripheral receptors enter the <a href="/articles/spinal-cord">spinal cord</a> via the posterior roots, and unlike first-order neurones from the <a href="/articles/spinothalamic-tracts">spinothalamic tract</a>, do not synapse in the posterior posterior grey horn of the cord <sup>1</sup>. Thus, these first-order neurones form the gracile fasciculus of the <a href="/articles/dorsal-columns">dorsal columns</a> if input was from T7 or below <sup>1</sup>. If input is from between and including C1 and T6, the <a href="/articles/cuneate-fasciculus-1">cuneate fasciculus</a> is formed instead, which is discussed separately. </p><h5>Course </h5><p>Unlike fibres of the <a href="/articles/spinothalamic-tracts">spinothalamic tract</a>, these first-order neurones in the gracile fasciculus continue to ascend without decussation <sup>1</sup>. This ipsilateral ascension continues until the <a href="/articles/medulla-oblongata">medulla oblongata</a> of the <a href="/articles/brainstem">brainstem</a> <sup>1</sup>. Fibres of this tract are somatotopically organised for their entire course <sup>1</sup>.</p><p>Upon reaching the gracile nucleus of the caudal <a href="/articles/medulla-oblongata">medulla oblongata</a> these first-order neurones terminate and synapse with second-order neurones <sup>1</sup>. These second-order neurones then decussate to the contralateral side, known as the internal arcuate fibres during this decussation <sup>1</sup>. These decussated neurones continue to ascend as part of the <a href="/articles/medial-lemniscus">medial lemniscus</a> where they terminate in the ventral posterior nucleus of the <a href="/articles/thalamus">thalamus</a> <sup>1</sup>. Here, they synapse with third-order neurones <sup>1</sup>. It is these third-order neurones that finally project to the primary somatosensory area on the ipsilateral side of the cerebral cortex <sup>1</sup>.</p><h4>Related pathology</h4><ul>

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