The dorsal (posterior) columns are the white matter tracts in the back of the spinal cord between the two dorsal horns. They carry fine touch, vibration and conscious position sense up to the medulla on the same side of the body. They consist of the fasciculus gracilis from the lower body and the fasciculus cuneatus from the upper body.
| Location | Posterior funiculus of the spinal cord, between the posterior median sulcus and the dorsal horns, along the whole length of the cord |
|---|---|
| Parts |
|
| Connections |
|
| Blood Supply | Posterior spinal arteries |
Carry discriminative touch, vibration, two-point discrimination and proprioception from the same side of the body to the brainstem.
Dorsal column damage causes sensory ataxia, with unsteadiness worse in the dark or with eyes closed (positive Romberg sign), and loss of vibration and joint position sense. Classic causes include vitamin B12 deficiency (subacute combined degeneration), tabes dorsalis from syphilis, copper deficiency and nitrous oxide misuse.
Vitamin B12 deficiency damaging the dorsal columns and lateral corticospinal tracts, causing numbness, sensory ataxia and spastic weakness.
Late neurosyphilis damaging the dorsal roots and columns, causing lightning pains, sensory ataxia and loss of reflexes.
Recreational nitrous oxide use inactivating vitamin B12 and causing dorsal column damage with numbness and gait problems.
This website uses cookies to enhance your experience. Some are essential for site functionality, while others help us analyze and improve your usage experience. Please review your options and make your choice.
If you are under 16 years old, please ensure that you have received consent from your parent or guardian for any non-essential cookies.
Your privacy is important to us. You can adjust your cookie settings at any time. For more information about how we use data, please read our privacy policy. You may change your preferences at any time by clicking on the settings button below.
Note that if you choose to disable some types of cookies, it may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer.
Some required resources have been blocked, which can affect third-party services and may cause the site to not function properly.
This website uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience and ensure the site functions properly. By continuing to use this site, you acknowledge and accept our use of cookies.
