Posterior spinal cord syndrome

The syndrome of the posterior spinal cords manifests itself mainly in a disorder of tactile and vibrational sensation. The disabled also suffer from ataxia, which manifests itself when the eyes are closed. The perception of pain, temperature and soft touch is not affected. Typical is a way of walking that is rough and the patients have a hard time stepping. Subjectively, however, they compare contact with the mat to walking on moss.

Posterior spinal cord
The posterior cords are formed by long axons of neurons, the body of which is stored in the spinal ganglia. It is an ascending three-neuron pathway that carries information about depth sensation, vibration, and proprioception. It is sometimes also called the lemniscal system. The nucleus gracilis and nucleus cuneatus are located in the medulla oblongata, in which the neurons connect and lead as a lemniscus medialis (crossing occurs at the level of the oblongata) to the area of the thalamus. In the thalamus, the three-neuron path connects for the last time in the nucleus ventralis posterolateralis (NVPL), and the fibers end in the cerebral cortex - in the postcentral gyrus.
 * Fasciculus gracilis
 * Fasciculus cuneatus

Causes

 * Human caudal brainstem posterior view description.JPGa
 * spinocerebellar ataxia
 * tabes dorsalis
 * pernicious anemia

Links

 * Traumatic spinal cord syndromes
 * Spinal medulla
 * Spinal tracts
 * Pernicious anemia
 * Ataxia