View source for Biology:Gracile nucleus

{{Infobox brain
| Name            = Gracile nucleus
| Latin           = nucleus gracilis
| Image           = Gray688.png
| Caption         = Section of the medulla oblongata at the level of the [[Biology:Decussation|decussation]] of the pyramids. Gracile nucleus is #8.
| Image2          = Gray691.png
| Caption2        = Dissection of brain-stem. Dorsal view. ("nucleus gracilis" is labeled on left, second from the bottom.)
| IsPartOf        =
| Components      =
| Artery          =
| Vein            =
}}
Located in the medulla oblongata, the '''gracile nucleus''' is one of the dorsal column nuclei that participate in the sensation of fine touch and [[Biology:Proprioception|proprioception]] of the lower body (legs and trunk). It contains second-order [[Biology:Neuron|neuron]]s of the posterior column-medial lemniscus pathway, which receive inputs from [[Biology:Sensory neuron|sensory neuron]]s of the dorsal root ganglia and send [[Biology:Axon|axon]]s that synapse in the [[Biology:Thalamus|thalamus]].

The [[Biology:Neuron|neuron]]s contained within the [[Biology:Nucleus (neuroanatomy)|nucleus]] form a visible bump called the '''gracile tubercle''' on the posterior side of the closed medulla at the floor of the fourth ventricle.

The gracile nucleus and fasciculus carry epicritic, kinesthetic, and conscious proprioceptive information from the lower part of the body (below the level of T6 in the spinal cord).  The counterpart to the gracile nucleus and fasciculus is the [[Biology:Cuneate nucleus|cuneate nucleus]] and fasciculus, which carries the same type of information, but from the upper body (above T6, excepting the [[Medicine:Face|face]] and [[Medicine:Ear|ear]] - the information from the face and ear is carried by the principal sensory nucleus of trigeminal nerve).

==Additional images==
<gallery>
 File:Gray680.png|Decussation of pyramids.
 File:Gray713.png|Scheme showing the course of the fibers of the lemniscus; medial lemniscus in blue, lateral in red.
 File:Gray714.png|Transverse section passing through the sensory decussation.
 File:Gray753.png|Deep dissection of cortex and brain-stem.
 File:Gray759.png|The sensory tract. 
File:Slide2PITER.JPG|Fourth ventricle. Posterioe view.Deep dissection.
</gallery>

==External links==
* {{BrainMaps|gracile%20nucleus}}
* [https://www.neuinfo.org/mynif/search.php?q=Gracile%20Nucleus&t=data&s=cover&b=0&r=20 NIF Search - Gracile Nucleus] via the [[Biology:Neuroscience Information Framework|Neuroscience Information Framework]]

{{Rhombencephalon}}
[[Category:Sensory systems]]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gracile Nucleus}}

{{Sourceattribution|Gracile nucleus|1}}