Graham bread

Gracile fasciculus is a part of the anatomy of the human body, specifically the nervous system. It is a bundle of nerve fibers that carries sensory information from the body to the brain.

Anatomy

The gracile fasciculus is located in the dorsal column of the spinal cord. It is one of the two main tracts in the dorsal column, the other being the cuneate fasciculus. The gracile fasciculus carries sensory information from the lower half of the body, while the cuneate fasciculus carries information from the upper half.

The nerve fibers in the gracile fasciculus originate from neurons in the dorsal root ganglia. These neurons receive sensory information from the body and send it to the brain via the gracile fasciculus.

Function

The main function of the gracile fasciculus is to carry sensory information from the body to the brain. This information includes proprioception (the sense of the position and movement of the body), vibration sensation, and fine touch.

The information carried by the gracile fasciculus is processed in the brainstem, specifically in the medulla oblongata. From there, it is sent to the thalamus, and then to the somatosensory cortex in the cerebral cortex, where it is perceived.

Clinical significance

Damage to the gracile fasciculus can result in loss of proprioception, vibration sensation, and fine touch in the lower half of the body. This can be caused by various conditions, such as spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, and vitamin B12 deficiency.