Fasciculus gracilis

Fasciculus Gracilis

The Fasciculus Gracilis (also known as the Gracile Fasciculus or Gracile Tract) is a bundle of axon fibers in the dorsal column-medial lemniscus pathway of the vertebrate spinal cord. It is one of the two main pathways for proprioception, the other being the Fasciculus Cuneatus.

Anatomy

The Fasciculus Gracilis is located medially in the dorsal column of the spinal cord, alongside the Fasciculus Cuneatus. It carries sensory information from the lower half of the body, specifically from T6 (the sixth thoracic vertebra) and below. The axons originate from dorsal root ganglion cells.

Function

The Fasciculus Gracilis is responsible for transmitting information about fine touch, vibration, and proprioception from the lower half of the body to the brain. This information is sent to the nucleus gracilis in the medulla oblongata, where it is processed and relayed to the thalamus and then to the cerebral cortex.

Clinical Significance

Damage to the Fasciculus Gracilis can result in loss of proprioception and fine touch sensation in the lower half of the body. This can be caused by conditions such as multiple sclerosis, neurosyphilis, and vitamin B12 deficiency, among others.

See Also

• Dorsal column-medial lemniscus pathway
• Fasciculus Cuneatus
• Proprioception
• Nucleus Gracilis