The grey commissure is the thin crossbar of grey matter joining the two halves of the spinal grey matter, forming the middle of the H shape. The central canal runs through it. Just in front of it lies the anterior white commissure, where pain and temperature fibres cross to the opposite side.
| Location | Centre of the spinal cord at every level, surrounding the central canal, behind the anterior white commissure |
|---|---|
| Parts |
|
| Connections |
|
| Blood Supply | Anterior spinal artery (sulcal branches) |
Connects the two sides of the spinal grey matter, allowing coordination between left and right, and surrounds the central canal.
Lesions centred on the grey commissure, such as syringomyelia or intramedullary tumours, damage crossing pain and temperature fibres first, causing a cape-like loss of pain and temperature over the shoulders and arms with preserved touch (dissociated sensory loss).
A fluid-filled cavity in the central cord damaging the commissural crossing fibres and causing a cape-shaped loss of pain and temperature sensation.
A tumour arising from cells around the central canal that expands the cord from the centre, causing pain and dissociated sensory loss.
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