FIBER TRACTS OF THE SPINAL CORD 



107 



amount of information has been obtained concerning the fiber tracts of the 

 spinal cord (Collier and Buzzard, 1901, 1903; Stewart, 1901; Thiele and Horsley, 

 1901 ; Batten and Holmes, 1913). This is summarized in the accompanying table 

 and in Fig. 78. 



TABLE SHOWING THE LOCATION OF THE CHIEF FIBER TRACTS OF THE SPINAL CORD AND THE 

 DIRECTION IN WHICH THEY DEGENERATE 



The fasciculi proprii or ground bundles are composed of short ascending 

 and descending fibers, which arise and terminate within the gray matter of the 

 spinal cord and link together the various segments of the cord. These fascicles, 

 one of which is present in each of the three funiculi, immediately surround 

 the gray columns. After a transection of the spinal cord the fasciculi proprii 

 undergo an incomplete degeneration for some distance both above and below 

 the lesion (Figs. 75, 76). In cross-section the ground bundle of the posterior 

 funiculus has the form of a narrow band upon the surface of the posterior column 

 and posterior commissure, and was once called the cornu-commissural bundle 

 (Fig. 78). In addition to this fascicle there are in the posterior funiculus two 

 other tracts which in part belong to the same system the septomarginal tract 

 and the fasciculus interfascicularis, or comma tract of Schultze. These are 

 both composed of descending fibers, in part of intraspinal origin and in part 

 representing the descending branches of the dorsal root fibers. The septomar- 

 ginal tract is situated along the dorsal periphery of the posterior funiculus in 

 the thoracic region; it takes up a position along the septum in the lumbar segments 

 (oval area of Flechsig) ; and in the sacral region it forms a triangular field at the 

 dorsomedial angle of the posterior funiculus (triangle of Gombault and Philippe) 

 (Fig. 76). The fasciculus interfascicularis is best developed in the thoracic 

 segments, where it occupies a position near the center of the posterior funiculus. 



