Gray commissure

Gray Column is a term used in the field of neuroanatomy to refer to a region of the spinal cord where the cell bodies of motor neurons are located. This region is also known as the anterior gray column, ventral gray column, or anterior horn of spinal cord.

Anatomy

The gray column is located in the anterior part of the spinal cord and is one of the three columns that make up the gray matter of the spinal cord. The other two columns are the lateral gray column and the posterior gray column. The gray column is shaped like a butterfly or an "H" in cross-section, with the anterior gray column forming the front "wings".

The gray column contains the cell bodies of motor neurons, which are responsible for sending signals from the brain to the muscles of the body. These neurons are known as lower motor neurons and they form the final common pathway for the motor system.

Function

The primary function of the gray column is to house the cell bodies of motor neurons. These neurons receive signals from the brain and transmit them to the muscles, causing them to contract and produce movement. The gray column also contains interneurons, which are involved in the processing and integration of sensory information.

Clinical significance

Damage to the gray column can result in a variety of neurological conditions, including motor neuron disease, poliomyelitis, and spinal muscular atrophy. These conditions are characterized by the degeneration of motor neurons, leading to muscle weakness and atrophy.

See also

• Spinal cord
• Motor neuron
• Gray matter
• Motor neuron disease
• Poliomyelitis
• Spinal muscular atrophy