Lateral horn

Lateral horn refers to a region of grey matter found in the spinal cord. It is also known as the lateral grey column or intermediolateral cell column (IML). The lateral horn is present in the thoracic, upper lumbar, and sacral regions of the spinal cord. It is involved in the sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system.

Anatomy

The lateral horn is located between the dorsal horn and ventral horn of the spinal cord's grey matter. It is only present in the thoracic, upper lumbral, and sacral regions. The lateral horn contains preganglionic neurons of the sympathetic nervous system.

Function

The lateral horn plays a crucial role in the functioning of the autonomic nervous system. It contains the cell bodies of preganglionic sympathetic neurons. These neurons send axons out of the spinal cord and into the sympathetic chain, where they synapse with postganglionic neurons. The postganglionic neurons then send their axons to target organs, such as the heart, lungs, and blood vessels, to regulate functions like heart rate, breathing rate, and blood pressure.

Clinical significance

Damage to the lateral horn can result in a range of autonomic dysfunctions, as it disrupts the normal functioning of the sympathetic nervous system. This can lead to conditions such as Horner's syndrome, which is characterized by drooping of the eyelid, constriction of the pupil, and absence of sweating on one side of the face.

See also

• Spinal cord
• Grey matter
• Autonomic nervous system
• Sympathetic nervous system