Gracile fasciculus

The gracile fasciculus (fasciculus gracilis, tract of Goll or gracile tract) is a nerve tract (a bundle of nerve fibers) in the dorsal column-medial lemniscus pathway of the spinal cord and carries information from the lower parts of the body. The gracile fasiculus is one of many ascending tracts which carry received sensory information to the brain via the spinal cord. It is also one of the dorsal columns, the other being the cuneate fasciculus.Decussation of pyramids.Superficial dissection of brain-stem. Lateral view.Superior terminations of the posterior fasciculi of the medulla spinalis.The sensory tract. (problem with this picture. Upper limb synapses with nucleus gracilis..)Upper part of medulla spinalis and hind- and mid-brains; posterior aspect, exposed in situ.Human caudal brainstem posterior view descriptionFourth ventricle. Posterior view.Deep dissection.2° (Spinomesencephalic tract → Superior colliculus of Midbrain tectum) The gracile fasciculus (fasciculus gracilis, tract of Goll or gracile tract) is a nerve tract (a bundle of nerve fibers) in the dorsal column-medial lemniscus pathway of the spinal cord and carries information from the lower parts of the body. The gracile fasiculus is one of many ascending tracts which carry received sensory information to the brain via the spinal cord. It is also one of the dorsal columns, the other being the cuneate fasciculus. The gracile fasciculus provides conscious proprioception of the lower limbs and trunk to the brainstem. Additional functions of the gracile fasciculus include carrying deep touch, vibrational, and visceral pain information to the brainstem. The gracile fasciculus and the cuneate fasciculus offer the same functions but can be differentiated by the vertebral level at which information is provided. The cuneate fasciculus carries information from vertebral level T6 and above, and the gracile fasciculus carries information from vertebral levels T7 and below. The two ascending tracts meet at the T6 level.