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Spinal Cord White Matter – Anatomy & Functions

Spinal Cord White Matter – Anatomy & Functions

Author: Scott A. Sheffield MS

Last update: Oct 24th, 2022

Several columns of myelinated axons surround the gray matter of the spinal cord. The lipid in the myelin makes the columns appear light in color (white matter).

The columns are referred to as the dorsal funiculus (or posterior funiculus), lateral funiculus, and ventral funiculus (or anterior funiculus).

An image showing the white matter inside the spinal cord segment

An image showing the Dorsal funiculus inside the spinal cord segment

An image showing the Lateral funiculus and Dorsal funiculus inside the spinal cord segment

An image showing the Ventral funiculus, Lateral funiculus and Dorsal funiculus inside the spinal cord segment

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A short anterior white commissure (not labeled) is also present just anterior to the gray commisure.
The funiculi, in turn, are divided into several sensory tracts (some are called fasciculi) and motor tracts.

An image showing the Ventral funiculus, Lateral funiculus and Dorsal funiculus inside the spinal cord segment

An image showing the Sensory Tracts, Ventral funiculus, Lateral funiculus and Dorsal funiculus inside the spinal cord segment

An image showing the Motor Tracts, Sensory Tracts, Ventral funiculus, Lateral funiculus and Dorsal funiculus inside the spinal cord segment

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Axons in the sensory tracts (and fasciculi) carry information up the spinal cord to the brain.

An image showing the sensory tract action potential movement, Motor Tracts, Sensory Tracts, Ventral funiculus, Lateral funiculus and Dorsal funiculus inside the spinal cord segment

An image showing the sensory tract action potential movement, Motor Tracts, Sensory Tracts, Ventral funiculus, Lateral funiculus and Dorsal funiculus inside the spinal cord segment

An image showing the sensory tract action potential movement, Motor Tracts, Sensory Tracts, Ventral funiculus, Lateral funiculus and Dorsal funiculus inside the spinal cord segment

An image showing the sensory tract action potential movement, Motor Tracts, Sensory Tracts, Ventral funiculus, Lateral funiculus and Dorsal funiculus inside the spinal cord segment

An image showing the sensory tract action potential movement, Motor Tracts, Sensory Tracts, Ventral funiculus, Lateral funiculus and Dorsal funiculus inside the spinal cord segment

An image showing the sensory tract action potential movement, Motor Tracts, Sensory Tracts, Ventral funiculus, Lateral funiculus and Dorsal funiculus inside the spinal cord segment

An image showing the sensory tract action potential movement, Motor Tracts, Sensory Tracts, Ventral funiculus, Lateral funiculus and Dorsal funiculus inside the spinal cord segment

An image showing the sensory tract action potential movement, Motor Tracts, Sensory Tracts, Ventral funiculus, Lateral funiculus and Dorsal funiculus inside the spinal cord segment

An image showing the sensory tract action potential movement, Motor Tracts, Sensory Tracts, Ventral funiculus, Lateral funiculus and Dorsal funiculus inside the spinal cord segment

An image showing the sensory tract action potential movement, Motor Tracts, Sensory Tracts, Ventral funiculus, Lateral funiculus and Dorsal funiculus inside the spinal cord segment

An image showing the sensory tract action potential movement, Motor Tracts, Sensory Tracts, Ventral funiculus, Lateral funiculus and Dorsal funiculus inside the spinal cord segment

An image showing the sensory tract action potential movement, Motor Tracts, Sensory Tracts, Ventral funiculus, Lateral funiculus and Dorsal funiculus inside the spinal cord segment

An image showing the sensory tract action potential movement, Motor Tracts, Sensory Tracts, Ventral funiculus, Lateral funiculus and Dorsal funiculus inside the spinal cord segment

An image showing the sensory tract action potential movement, Motor Tracts, Sensory Tracts, Ventral funiculus, Lateral funiculus and Dorsal funiculus inside the spinal cord segment

An image showing the sensory tract action potential movement, Motor Tracts, Sensory Tracts, Ventral funiculus, Lateral funiculus and Dorsal funiculus inside the spinal cord segment

An image showing the sensory tract action potential movement, Motor Tracts, Sensory Tracts, Ventral funiculus, Lateral funiculus and Dorsal funiculus inside the spinal cord segment

An image showing the sensory tract action potential movement, Motor Tracts, Sensory Tracts, Ventral funiculus, Lateral funiculus and Dorsal funiculus inside the spinal cord segment

Axons in the motor tracts carry information from the brain down the spinal cord.

Quickly and efficiently learn white and grey matter with these interactive spinal cord quizzes and worksheets.

An image showing the motor tract action potential movement, Motor Tracts, Sensory Tracts, Ventral funiculus, Lateral funiculus and Dorsal funiculus inside the spinal cord segment

An image showing the motor tract action potential movement, Motor Tracts, Sensory Tracts, Ventral funiculus, Lateral funiculus and Dorsal funiculus inside the spinal cord segment

An image showing the motor tract action potential movement, Motor Tracts, Sensory Tracts, Ventral funiculus, Lateral funiculus and Dorsal funiculus inside the spinal cord segment

An image showing the motor tract action potential movement, Motor Tracts, Sensory Tracts, Ventral funiculus, Lateral funiculus and Dorsal funiculus inside the spinal cord segment

An image showing the motor tract action potential movement, Motor Tracts, Sensory Tracts, Ventral funiculus, Lateral funiculus and Dorsal funiculus inside the spinal cord segment

An image showing the motor tract action potential movement, Motor Tracts, Sensory Tracts, Ventral funiculus, Lateral funiculus and Dorsal funiculus inside the spinal cord segment

An image showing the motor tract action potential movement, Motor Tracts, Sensory Tracts, Ventral funiculus, Lateral funiculus and Dorsal funiculus inside the spinal cord segment

An image showing the motor tract action potential movement, Motor Tracts, Sensory Tracts, Ventral funiculus, Lateral funiculus and Dorsal funiculus inside the spinal cord segment

An image showing the motor tract action potential movement, Motor Tracts, Sensory Tracts, Ventral funiculus, Lateral funiculus and Dorsal funiculus inside the spinal cord segment

An image showing the motor tract action potential movement, Motor Tracts, Sensory Tracts, Ventral funiculus, Lateral funiculus and Dorsal funiculus inside the spinal cord segment

An image showing the motor tract action potential movement, Motor Tracts, Sensory Tracts, Ventral funiculus, Lateral funiculus and Dorsal funiculus inside the spinal cord segment

An image showing the motor tract action potential movement, Motor Tracts, Sensory Tracts, Ventral funiculus, Lateral funiculus and Dorsal funiculus inside the spinal cord segment

An image showing the motor tract action potential movement, Motor Tracts, Sensory Tracts, Ventral funiculus, Lateral funiculus and Dorsal funiculus inside the spinal cord segment

An image showing the motor tract action potential movement, Motor Tracts, Sensory Tracts, Ventral funiculus, Lateral funiculus and Dorsal funiculus inside the spinal cord segment

An image showing the motor tract action potential movement, Motor Tracts, Sensory Tracts, Ventral funiculus, Lateral funiculus and Dorsal funiculus inside the spinal cord segment

An image showing the motor tract action potential movement, Motor Tracts, Sensory Tracts, Ventral funiculus, Lateral funiculus and Dorsal funiculus inside the spinal cord segment

An image showing the motor tract action potential movement, Motor Tracts, Sensory Tracts, Ventral funiculus, Lateral funiculus and Dorsal funiculus inside the spinal cord segment

An image showing the motor tract action potential movement, Motor Tracts, Sensory Tracts, Ventral funiculus, Lateral funiculus and Dorsal funiculus inside the spinal cord segment

An image showing the motor tract action potential movement, Motor Tracts, Sensory Tracts, Ventral funiculus, Lateral funiculus and Dorsal funiculus inside the spinal cord segment

An image showing the motor tract action potential movement, Motor Tracts, Sensory Tracts, Ventral funiculus, Lateral funiculus and Dorsal funiculus inside the spinal cord segment

Overview:

An image showing the Motor Tracts, Sensory Tracts, Ventral funiculus, Lateral funiculus and Dorsal funiculus inside the spinal cord segment without answers

An image showing the Motor Tracts, Sensory Tracts, Ventral funiculus, Lateral funiculus and Dorsal funiculus inside the spinal cord segment with labeles and answers below

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