Cuneate nucleus

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Brain: Cuneate nucleus
Gray691.png
Dissection of brain-stem. Dorsal view. (Label for "nucleus cuneatus" is on left, third from the bottom.)
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Section of the medulla oblongata at about the middle of the olive.
Latin nucleus cuneatus
Gray's subject #187 774
NeuroNames hier-764
NeuroLex ID birnlex_2640

One of the dorsal column nuclei, the cuneate nucleus is a wedge-shaped nucleus in the closed part of the medulla oblongata. It contains cells that give rise to the cuneate tubercle, visible on the posterior aspect of the medulla. It lies laterally to the gracile nucleus and medial to the spinal trigeminal nucleus in the medulla.

Contents

[edit] Function

The cuneate nucleus is part of dorsal column-medial lemniscus system, carrying fine touch and proprioceptive information from the upper body (above T6, except the face and ear - the information from the face and ear is carried by the primary sensory trigeminal nucleus) to the contralateral thalamus via the medial lemniscus.

[edit] Inputs

It receives direct input from the mechanoreceptors of the upper body as well as indirect input from them via the spinal cord. It is also subject to descending control from the central nervous system.

[edit] Pathology

It may be affected by vitamin E deficiency exhibiting neuroaxonal swelling.[citation needed]

[edit] See also

[edit] Additional images

[edit] External links

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