Histological features of cervical segments of spinal cord in goat foetuses

Abstract

Histological studies were carried out on the cervical segments of spinal cord in goat using 52 foetuses of various ages. In the first five cervical segments studied, the dorsal hom was wider than the ventral horn. The ventral hom was with pointed ventral ends. From second month onwards, the ventral horn presented dorsolateral and ventrolateral nuclei in addition to indistinct dorsomedial and ventromedial nuclei in the ventral hom. Spinal accessory nucleus was also seen in the first five segments and phrenic nerve nucleus appeared in the fifth segment. The cervical region presented well developed reticular formation and cervical nucleus of Stilling. The nucleus proprius was ill-defined.