Posterior median sulcus of spinal cord

Posterior Median Sulcus of Spinal Cord

The Posterior Median Sulcus of Spinal Cord is a longitudinal groove found on the posterior aspect of the spinal cord. It is one of the anatomical features that helps to divide the spinal cord into symmetrical halves.

File:Gray's Anatomy plate 759.png

Posterior Median Sulcus of Spinal Cord (labeled at bottom center)

Anatomy

The Posterior Median Sulcus is a shallow, longitudinal groove that runs along the dorsal (posterior) midline of the spinal cord. It begins at the medulla oblongata and extends to the conus medullaris, the tapered, lower end of the spinal cord. The sulcus is the boundary between the two posterior columns of the spinal cord, also known as the dorsal columns.

Function

The Posterior Median Sulcus serves as a dividing line between the two posterior funiculi of the spinal cord. These funiculi contain ascending sensory tracts, which carry sensory information from the body to the brain. The specific tracts found within the posterior funiculi are the fasciculus gracilis and the fasciculus cuneatus, which carry information about fine touch, vibration, and proprioception.

Clinical Significance

Damage to the posterior median sulcus and the structures it demarcates can result in sensory loss or impairment. Conditions such as tabes dorsalis, a form of neurosyphilis, can damage the dorsal columns and result in loss of proprioception and vibratory sensation.

See Also

• Spinal cord
• Anterior median fissure of spinal cord
• Fasciculus gracilis
• Fasciculus cuneatus

References

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