Together the gracile and cuneate nuclei make up the dorsal column nuclei. The rostral gracile fasciculus carries only cutaneous afferents. The cell bodies are located medial aspects of the dorsal horn and their axons terminate in either the cuneate or gracile nucleus, depending on segment of origin. The functions of the PSDC cells are not fully understood. In cats, at least, they have been suggested to play a role in nociception.
Fibers cross midline and ascend the anterior lateral quadrant of the spinal white matter.
LCN neurons cross the midline and join the medial lemniscal fibers. Collaterals to midbrain nuclei. C. Thalamic Terminations Associated With Nociception . D. Cortical sites for pain processing is poorly understood. Destruction of the primary somatosensory cortex does not seem to impair pain processing.