dorsal column

anatomy

Also known as: posterior column

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Last updated

June 17, 2026

Quick Summary

The dorsal column is a crucial part of the spinal cord's white matter. It contains ascending tracts, specifically the fasciculi gracilis and cuneatus, which carry sensory information from the body to the medulla oblongata. These tracts are responsible for conveying sensations of tactile and pressure sense, as well as kinesthetic information (awareness of body position). The dorsal column plays a vital role in transmitting these sensory signals to the brain for processing.1

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human sensory reception
Nerve function
…along the back (in the dorsal columns) of the spinal cord. Afferent fibres enter the cord from the cutaneous nerves and ascend without synaptic break in one (the ipsilateral) dorsal column. This is a very rapidly conducting pathway shared by fibres that mediate sensations of deep pressure and kinesthesis. Other…
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…along the back (in the dorsal columns) of the spinal cord. Afferent fibres enter the cord from the cutaneous nerves and ascend without synaptic break in one (the ipsilateral) dorsal column. This is a very rapidly conducting pathway shared by fibres that mediate sensations of deep pressure and kinesthesis. Other…
Read More

human nervous system
Dorsal column
The largest ascending tracts, the fasciculi gracilis and cuneatus, arise from spinal ganglion cells and ascend in the dorsal funiculus to the medulla oblongata. The fasciculus gracilis receives fibers from ganglia below thoracic 6, while spinal ganglia from higher segments of the spinal…
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The largest ascending tracts, the fasciculi gracilis and cuneatus, arise from spinal ganglion cells and ascend in the dorsal funiculus to the medulla oblongata. The fasciculus gracilis receives fibers from ganglia below thoracic 6, while spinal ganglia from higher segments of the spinal…
Read More