Pathways to the Cerebral Cortex for Afferent Fibers From the Hindleg of the Cat

Abstract

Forty cats were used in expts. in which peripheral nerves were stimulated, evoked potentials recorded from somatic areas I and II bilaterally and cord lesions made in attempts to abolish potentials. All nerves studied, including muscle, joint, interosseous membrane and skin, normally projected to both areas bilaterally. Aside from muscle nerves, which have few if any fibers ascending in dorsal funiculi, it appears that impulses from all nerves can reach the cerebral cortex by way of the dorsal funiculi. In addition, there are crossed and uncrossed paths in each side of the rest of the spinal cord. Any nerve can project to any of the somatic areas by any of these paths. These routes all relay in the lower brain stem. It is possible that group II and III fibers form an important contribution to the muscle component in these paths.