Posterior horn

The Posterior Horn (also known as the dorsal horn) is a region within the spinal cord that plays a crucial role in the transmission of sensory information from the peripheral nervous system to the central nervous system. It is one of the two major divisions of the grey matter in the spinal cord, the other being the anterior horn.

Anatomy

The posterior horn is located at the back of the spinal cord, opposite the anterior horn. It is composed of a number of different types of neurons, including interneurons, projection neurons, and glial cells. These neurons are responsible for processing and transmitting sensory information to the brain.

Function

The primary function of the posterior horn is to receive and process sensory information from the body. This information is then transmitted to the brain via the spinal tract. The type of sensory information processed by the posterior horn includes touch, temperature, pain, and proprioception (the sense of the relative position of one's own parts of the body).

Clinical Significance

Damage or disease affecting the posterior horn can lead to a variety of neurological conditions. For example, neuropathic pain can result from damage to the neurons in the posterior horn. Additionally, diseases such as multiple sclerosis and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) can also affect the function of the posterior horn.

See Also

• Anterior Horn
• Spinal Cord
• Neuron
• Neuropathic Pain
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis