Which modalities are carried primarily by the dorsal column pathway?

Which modalities are carried primarily by the dorsal column pathway?

• A. Pain and temperature.
• B. Visual information.
• C. Auditory information.
• D. Fine touch and proprioception.

Answer: (D)

The dorsal column–medial lemniscus system transmits high-fidelity touch and proprioception from the body. It carries discriminative touch, vibration, and sense of position via the fasciculus gracilis (lower body) and fasciculus cuneatus (upper body) up to the medulla, where these fibers cross and form the medial lemniscus to the thalamus and then to the somatosensory cortex. This pathway is distinct from the spinothalamic tract, which carries pain and temperature, and from pathways carrying visual or auditory information. Therefore, the modalities carried primarily by the dorsal column pathway are fine touch and proprioception.

The dorsal column–medial lemniscus system transmits high-fidelity touch and proprioception from the body. It carries discriminative touch, vibration, and sense of position via the fasciculus gracilis (lower body) and fasciculus cuneatus (upper body) up to the medulla, where these fibers cross and form the medial lemniscus to the thalamus and then to the somatosensory cortex. This pathway is distinct from the spinothalamic tract, which carries pain and temperature, and from pathways carrying visual or auditory information. Therefore, the modalities carried primarily by the dorsal column pathway are fine touch and proprioception.