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The central projection of muscle afferent fibres to the lower medulla and upper spinal cord: An anatomical study in the cat with the transganglionic transport method
Author(s) -
Nyberg Gunnar,
Blomqvist Anders
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
journal of comparative neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.855
H-Index - 209
eISSN - 1096-9861
pISSN - 0021-9967
DOI - 10.1002/cne.902300109
Subject(s) - cuneate nucleus , anatomy , spinal cord , dorsal column nuclei , medulla oblongata , forelimb , nucleus , biology , fasciculus , medulla , reticular formation , afferent , central nervous system , neuroscience , medicine , magnetic resonance imaging , fractional anisotropy , radiology , white matter
The projection of muscle afferent fibres to the medulla oblongata and upper spinal cord was studied in the cat by using transganglionic transport of wheat germ agglutinin‐horseradish peroxidase conjugate. The results demonstrate a precise, musculotopic termination pattern in the external cuneate nucleus; thus, fibres from the intrinsic muscles of the paw terminate medially; those from forearm, arm, and shoulder muscles terminate progressively more laterally; and those from neck and thoracic muscles terminate in the ventrolateral and dorsolateral parts, respectively. Muscle afferent fibres to the main cuneate nucleus terminate in the ventral “reticular” region of the nucleus, with a sparse projection also to the ventral part of the rostral and caudal regions, including the base of the dorsal horn. Fibres from the neck muscles terminate slightly more laterally in the ventral region than do those from the limb muscles, but otherwise, and thus contrary to the case in the external cuneate nucleus, no topographic organization was detected. In the spinal cord, projection was found to laminae I and V, and from the musculature of the back of the neck to the central cervical nucleus.