Author(s): Farhan Kirmani, Farah Ghaus, Muzammil Ullah
Study was conducted using eight adult rabbits with an aim to see the arrangement of motor neuron somata in ventral grey horn of spinal cord of rabbit 'in the region of cervical enlargement (i.e. C5 - Tl spinal cord segments)' and further to localize the motor neuron somata of various nerves of forelimb. These rabbits were sacrificed and perfusion fixed in 10% buffered formalin. Cervical spinal cord segments (C5 - C8) and thoracic spinal cord segment (Tl) were processed for paraffin embedding. 40-micron thick serial transverse sec-tions were obtained and every 5th section stained with thionin. Reconstruction from serial transverse section of different segments was done by Elliot’s method and it was found that neurons in the spinal cord are not scattered but they are arranged in vertical columns. Fol-lowing columns of cells were observed. Ventrolateral column, from 5th cervical to 1st thoracic segment. Dorsolateral column, from 5th cervical to 1st thoracic segment. Retrodorsolateral column, from 8th cervical to 1st thoracic segment. Ventromedial column; from 5th cervical to 1st thoracic segment. Dorsomedial column; from 8th cervical to 1st thoracic segment. Central column; from 5th cervical to 6th cervical segment.