Lemniscus

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Lemniscus

Lemniscus (pronunciation: /lɛmˈnɪskəs/) is a term used in neuroanatomy to describe a bundle of secondary sensory fibers in the brainstem. The term is derived from the Latin word "lemniscus", which means "ribbon", referring to the ribbon-like structure of these fiber tracts.

Etymology

The term "lemniscus" is derived from the Latin word "lemniscus", which means "ribbon". This is in reference to the ribbon-like structure of these fiber tracts.

Types of Lemniscus

There are three main types of lemniscus in the human brain:

  • Medial lemniscus: This is a large ascending bundle of heavily myelinated axons that decussate in the brainstem, specifically in the medulla oblongata. It carries information about discriminative touch and conscious proprioception.
  • Lateral lemniscus: This is a tract of axons in the brainstem that carries information about sound from the cochlear nucleus to various brainstem nuclei and ultimately the contralateral inferior colliculus of the midbrain.
  • Spinal lemniscus: This is a pathway in the brainstem that carries information about pain and temperature, and crude touch from the body to the thalamus.

Related Terms

  • Neuroanatomy: The study of the structure and organization of the nervous system.
  • Brainstem: The posterior part of the brain, continuous with the spinal cord.
  • Medulla oblongata: The lower half of the brainstem that contains the cardiac, respiratory, vomiting and vasomotor centers and deals with autonomic functions.
  • Thalamus: A large mass of gray matter in the dorsal part of the diencephalon of the brain with several functions such as relaying of sensory signals and regulation of consciousness.

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