Sensory Nuclear Columns

• Longitudinal limits of the sensory cell groups in the spinal cord

• Dorsal Root Ganglion neurons have axons that enter at their cord segment level and this axon ascends in the dorsal columns reaching the brainstem.
• Sensory PAIN fibers enters the dorsal lateral fasciculus and synapses with neurons in Substantia gelatinosa & with N. proprius neurons that forms the ascending pathway. Gelatinosa enlarges nuclear groups at C5-C8 and at L4-S3. These represent brachial and lumbosacral enlargements.
• Somatic Sensory cord columns for neck, trunk & extremities extend the length of cord. (GSA) The neurons of the pathway are in the Nucleus Proprius. This nucleus contains large neurons in the dorsal horn. These are for touch.
• Clarkes Column extends between T1-L2 & forms cerebellar pathways
• Visceral sensory column (GVA) extends from T1 - L2 and is located at an intermediate region dorsal to the lateral horn motor column. These sense visceral and peripheral autonomic inputs for reflexes.