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Robotic Spine Universe

Structures · Cord and roots

Rexed laminae

The layers into which the grey matter is divided. In the dorsal horn, each lamina is linked to particular kinds of sensory input: pain, heat and itch fibres end mostly in laminae I and II, touch fibres deeper.

SchematicShow in the 3D spine

Cross-section at C6

Lamina I, left (schematic)Lamina II, left (schematic)Lamina III, left (schematic)Lamina IV, left (schematic)Lamina V, left (schematic)Lamina VI, left (schematic)Lamina VII, left (schematic)Lamina VIII, left (schematic)Lamina IX, left (schematic)Lamina I, right (schematic)Lamina II, right (schematic)Lamina III, right (schematic)Lamina IV, right (schematic)Lamina V, right (schematic)Lamina VI, right (schematic)Lamina VII, right (schematic)Lamina VIII, right (schematic)Lamina IX, right (schematic)Lamina X (schematic)IIIIIIIVVVIVIIVIIIIXIIIIIIIVVVIVIIVIIIIXXAnteriorPosteriorLR
Regions in this section (text list)
  • Lamina I, left (schematic)
  • Lamina II, left (schematic)
  • Lamina III, left (schematic)
  • Lamina IV, left (schematic)
  • Lamina V, left (schematic)
  • Lamina VI, left (schematic)
  • Lamina VII, left (schematic)
  • Lamina VIII, left (schematic)
  • Lamina IX, left (schematic)
  • Lamina I, right (schematic)
  • Lamina II, right (schematic)
  • Lamina III, right (schematic)
  • Lamina IV, right (schematic)
  • Lamina V, right (schematic)
  • Lamina VI, right (schematic)
  • Lamina VII, right (schematic)
  • Lamina VIII, right (schematic)
  • Lamina IX, right (schematic)
  • Lamina X (schematic)

Laminae drawn schematically over the grey matter. Outline from the PAM50 template and atlas, cut at the segment midpoint. De Leener et al. 2018; Lévy et al. 2015

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What the sources say

“It is organized into distinct laminae, each associated with specific types of sensory information.” Rivera-Arconada et al. 2025
“In contrast, high threshold (HT) myelinated Aδ and unmyelinated C fibers, which mediate pain, thermal sensations, and itch, mainly terminate in lamina I and II (for review see Todd, 2010 ; Merighi, 2018 ).” Rivera-Arconada et al. 2025
“In particular, myelinated Aβ and low threshold (LT) Aδ fibers, which mediate innocuous mechanical sensitivity, primarily project to lamina II inner, III, and IV.” Rivera-Arconada et al. 2025

Read more

  • Gate control of pain

    Melzack and Wall's 1965 idea that the dorsal horn of the cord works like a gate on pain signals, opened or closed by other inputs and by the brain. What it proposed, what it changed, and how it is described now.

  • Grey matter and Rexed laminae

    The H-shaped core of the cord. Its horns sort sensory input, drive muscles and run autonomic outflow, and the dorsal horn is layered into laminae that receive different kinds of sensation.

  • The spinothalamic tract

    The route for pain and temperature. Its fibres synapse as soon as they enter the cord and cross there, so a lesion of one side of the cord affects pain on the other side of the body.

For learning only. Levels and sizes vary between people; nothing here describes a particular person or gives medical advice. Sources: Rivera-Arconada et al. 2025.