Wise Young
10-23-2001, 06:38 AM
From a Topic in the Care Forum (http://carecure.org/forum/showpost.php?p=8878)
Wise,
Great article. I have one question, though. I know very little about marginal cells, but I understand that they are sort of "odd beasts" in the cord that might fall outside of the guidelines that you lay down for sensory nerves. For instance, I've heard of an experiment where stimulating a single marginal cell caused pain on both sides of the body. Do you have any additional thoughts on where marginal cells fit in, or can you at least point me to a source where I can learn a little more?
David Berg
David,
After some searching, I finally found what the marginal cells that I think you were referring to. They must be the cells in the marginal layer (layer 1) of the substantia gelatinosa, mentioned in Gray's Anatomy http://www.bartleby.com/107/185.html, and in the following studies.
In any case, these cells do indeed project bilaterally to the gray matter in the spinal cord and also send axons up to the brainstem. They cross in the central gray matter above the central canal. Also, there are more crossing fibers after lesions of the spinal cord. It is not surprising that stimulation of these cells will produce sensations on both sides.
Wise.
http://carecure.rutgers.edu/spinewire/Research/MarginalCells01.html
[This message was edited by Wise Young on October 23, 2001 at 09:04 AM.]
Wise,
Great article. I have one question, though. I know very little about marginal cells, but I understand that they are sort of "odd beasts" in the cord that might fall outside of the guidelines that you lay down for sensory nerves. For instance, I've heard of an experiment where stimulating a single marginal cell caused pain on both sides of the body. Do you have any additional thoughts on where marginal cells fit in, or can you at least point me to a source where I can learn a little more?
David Berg
David,
After some searching, I finally found what the marginal cells that I think you were referring to. They must be the cells in the marginal layer (layer 1) of the substantia gelatinosa, mentioned in Gray's Anatomy http://www.bartleby.com/107/185.html, and in the following studies.
In any case, these cells do indeed project bilaterally to the gray matter in the spinal cord and also send axons up to the brainstem. They cross in the central gray matter above the central canal. Also, there are more crossing fibers after lesions of the spinal cord. It is not surprising that stimulation of these cells will produce sensations on both sides.
Wise.
http://carecure.rutgers.edu/spinewire/Research/MarginalCells01.html
[This message was edited by Wise Young on October 23, 2001 at 09:04 AM.]