THE NERVOUS SYSTEM 



ganglion cell enters the spinal cord by way of the dorsal roots. The touch fibers 

 are probably myelinated and enter the cuneate fasciculus through the medial 

 division of the dorsal root; and, like all other dorsal root fibers, they divide into 

 ascending and descending branches. The ascending branches run for varying 

 distances in the posterior funiculus, giving off collaterals before they terminate 



Internal capsule 



~ Thalamus 



Spinothalamic tract ~ 



Ascending branches of 

 dorsal root fibers 



Ventral Spinothalamic tract 



Mesencephalon 



Medulla oblongata 



Medial lemniscus -|- 



Spinal cord 



Dorsal root and spinal ganglion 



Fig. 230. Diagram of the tactile path. 



in the gray matter of the spinal cord, some few at least even reaching the nucleus 

 gracilis and cuneatus in the medulla oblongata. At varying levels they enter 

 the gray substance of the columna posterior and form synapses with the neurons 

 of the second order (Fig. 230). 



