Structure: < Click on image >

Lumbar Enlargement, Nissl Stain. (Image modified from N.B. Everett, Functional Neuroanatomy. Lea & Febiger 1971, with permission of Williams & Wilkins). Look closely at the gray matter and find the following sensory nuclear groups in the posterior gray: posteromarginal nucleus, substantia gelatinosa, nucleus proprius, base of posterior horn. The dorsal nucleus of Clarke extends into the upper part of the lumbar cord. Note that the motor nuclei in the anterior gray are subdivided into a medial group for innervation of the trunk muscles, and a lateral group of larger motor neurons for innervation of the lower extremity. Note also the prominent group of anterior (ventral) rootlets, and the posterolateral fasciculus (collection of primary afferent pain fibers).

Quizzes (these require Java Web Start):

Software (C) 1997 <---> Images (C) 2000