Intermediolateral nucleus

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Intermediolateral nucleus
Medulla spinalis - Substantia grisea - English.svg
Medulla spinalis (Intermediolateral nucleus visible at right in green.)
Details
Part of Spinal cord
Identifiers
Latin nucleus intermediolateralis medullae spinalis
NeuroNames 1667
TA98 A14.1.02.133
TA2 6078
FMA 73915
Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy

The intermediolateral nucleus (IML) is located in Rexed lamina VII of the lateral grey column, one of three grey matter columns found in the spinal cord.

The intermediolateral cell column exists at vertebral levels T1L3. [1] It mediates the entire sympathetic innervation of the body, but the nucleus resides in the grey matter of the spinal cord. [1]

Rexed Lamina VII contains several well defined nuclei including the posterior thoracic nucleus (Clarke's column), the intermediolateral nucleus, and the sacral autonomic nucleus.

It extends from T1 to L3, and contains the autonomic motor neurons that give rise to the preganglionic fibers of the sympathetic nervous system, (preganglionic sympathetic general visceral efferents).

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Autonomic nervous system</span> Division of the nervous system supplying internal organs, smooth muscle and glands

The autonomic nervous system (ANS), sometimes called the visceral nervous system and formerly the vegetative nervous system, is a division of the nervous system that operates internal organs, smooth muscle and glands. The autonomic nervous system is a control system that acts largely unconsciously and regulates bodily functions, such as the heart rate, its force of contraction, digestion, respiratory rate, pupillary response, urination, and sexual arousal. This system is the primary mechanism in control of the fight-or-flight response.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parasympathetic nervous system</span> Division of the autonomic nervous system

The parasympathetic nervous system is one of the three divisions of the autonomic nervous system, the others being the sympathetic nervous system and the enteric nervous system. The enteric nervous system is sometimes considered part of the autonomic nervous system, and sometimes considered an independent system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sympathetic nervous system</span> Part of the autonomic nervous system which stimulates fight-or-flight responses

The sympathetic nervous system is one of the three divisions of the autonomic nervous system, the others being the parasympathetic nervous system and the enteric nervous system. The enteric nervous system is sometimes considered part of the autonomic nervous system, and sometimes considered an independent system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grey columns</span> Three columns of grey matter within the spinal cord

The grey columns are three regions of the somewhat ridge-shaped mass of grey matter in the spinal cord. These regions present as three columns: the anterior grey column, the posterior grey column, and the lateral grey column, all of which are visible in cross-section of the spinal cord.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spinocerebellar tracts</span> Nerve tract in humans

The spinocerebellar tracts are nerve tracts originating in the spinal cord and terminating in the same side (ipsilateral) of the cerebellum. The two main tracts are the dorsal spinocerebellar tract, and the ventral spinocerebellar tract. Both of these tracts are located in the peripheral region of the lateral funiculi. Other tracts are the rostral spinocerebellar tract, and the cuneocerebellar tract.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sympathetic trunk</span> Bundle of nerve fibers

The sympathetic trunk is a paired bundle of nerve fibers that run from the base of the skull to the coccyx. It is a major component of the sympathetic nervous system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White ramus communicans</span>

The white ramus communicans from Latin ramus (branch) and communicans (communicating) is the preganglionic sympathetic outflow nerve tract from the spinal cord.

Each spinal nerve receives a branch called a gray ramus communicans from the adjacent paravertebral ganglion of the sympathetic trunk. The gray rami communicantes contain postganglionic nerve fibers of the sympathetic nervous system and are composed of largely unmyelinated neurons. This is in contrast to the white rami communicantes, in which heavily myelinated neurons give the rami their white appearance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ramus communicans</span> Latin term used for a nerve which connects two other nerves

Ramus communicans is the Latin term used for a nerve which connects two other nerves, and can be translated as "communicating branch".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Postganglionic nerve fibers</span> Fibers from the ganglion to the effector organ

In the autonomic nervous system, nerve fibers from the ganglion to the effector organ are called postganglionic nerve fibers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Preganglionic nerve fibers</span> Nerve fibers connecting the central nervous system to a ganglion

In the autonomic nervous system, nerve fibers from the central nervous system to the ganglion are known as preganglionic nerve fibers. All preganglionic fibers, whether they are in the sympathetic division or in the parasympathetic division, are cholinergic and they are myelinated.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sympathetic ganglia</span> Ganglia of the sympathetic nervous system

The sympathetic ganglia, or paravertebral ganglia, are autonomic ganglia of the sympathetic nervous system. Ganglia are 20,000 to 30,000 afferent and efferent nerve cell bodies that run along on either side of the spinal cord. Afferent nerve cell bodies bring information from the body to the brain and spinal cord, while efferent nerve cell bodies bring information from the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the body. The cell bodies create long sympathetic chains that are on either side of the spinal cord. They also form para- or pre-vertebral ganglia of gross anatomy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lateral grey column</span> One of three columns of grey matter in the spinal cord

The lateral grey column is one of the three grey columns of the spinal cord ; the others being the anterior and posterior grey columns. The lateral grey column is primarily involved with activity in the sympathetic division of the autonomic motor system. It projects to the side as a triangular field in the thoracic and upper lumbar regions of the postero-lateral part of the anterior grey column.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Posterior thoracic nucleus</span>

The posterior thoracic nucleus, is a group of interneurons found in the medial part of Rexed lamina VII, also known as the intermediate zone, of the spinal cord. It is located from the cervical segment C8 to lumbar segment L3 of the spinal cord and is an important structure for proprioception of the lower limb.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rexed laminae</span> Layers of grey matter in the spinal cord

The Rexed laminae comprise a system of ten layers of grey matter (I–X), identified in the early 1950s by Bror Rexed to label portions of the grey columns of the spinal cord.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nucleus proprius of spinal cord</span>

The nucleus proprius of spinal cord is a layer of the spinal cord adjacent to the substantia gelatinosa. The nucleus proprius can be found in the gray matter in all levels of the spinal cord. It constitutes the first synapse of the posterior gray column carrying proprioception, two-point discrimination, and vibration sensations from peripheral nerves. Cells in this nucleus project to deeper laminae of the spinal cord, to the posterior column nuclei, and to other supraspinal relay centers including the midbrain, thalamus, and hypothalamus. Rexed laminae III and IV make up the nucleus proprius.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Esophageal plexus</span>

The esophageal plexus is formed by nerve fibers from two sources, branches of the vagus nerve, and visceral branches of the sympathetic trunk. The esophageal plexus and the cardiac plexus contain the same types of fibers and are both considered thoracic autonomic plexus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spinal cord</span> Part of the vertebral column in animals

The spinal cord is a long, thin, tubular structure made up of nervous tissue that extends from the medulla oblongata in the lower brainstem to the lumbar region of the vertebral column (backbone) of vertebrate animals. The center of the spinal cord is hollow and contains a structure called the central canal, which contains cerebrospinal fluid. The spinal cord is also covered by meninges and enclosed by the neural arches. Together, the brain and spinal cord make up the central nervous system.

The hypothalamospinal tract is an unmyelinated non-decussated descending nerve tract that arises in the hypothalamus and projects to the brainstem and spinal cord to synapse with pre-ganglionic autonomic neurons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roots of the ciliary ganglion</span>

The ciliary ganglion is a parasympathetic ganglion located just behind the eye in the posterior orbit. Three types of axons enter the ciliary ganglion but only the preganglionic parasympathetic axons synapse there. The entering axons are arranged into three roots of the ciliary ganglion, which join enter the posterior surface of the ganglion.

References

  1. 1 2 Powley, Terry L. (2013-01-01), Squire, Larry R.; Berg, Darwin; Bloom, Floyd E.; du Lac, Sascha (eds.), "Chapter 34 - Central Control of Autonomic Functions: Organization of the Autonomic Nervous System", Fundamental Neuroscience (Fourth Edition), San Diego: Academic Press, pp. 729–747, ISBN   978-0-12-385870-2 , retrieved 2021-01-06