Nucleus gracilis

Definition

The nucleus gracilis is a sensory relay nucleus located in the dorsal medulla oblongata of the brainstem, integral to processing touch and proprioception information from the lower body before conveying it to the cerebral cortex. It acts as a critical hub in the pathway that allows the brain to interpret sensations such as vibration, fine touch, and proprioceptive signals.

Related terms

Proprioception:

The sense that lets us perceive the position, movement, and action of our body parts without using our eyes.

Medulla Oblongata:

The lower half of the brainstem that controls vital autonomic functions such as breathing and heart rate.

Cerebral Cortex:

The outer layer of neural tissue of the cerebrum in mammals, responsible for processing complex sensory data and executing higher order functions like reasoning and speech