What is lissauer tract?

The Lissauer tract, also known as the dorsolateral tract, is a group of nerve fibers located just outside of the spinal cord within the gray matter in the dorsal horn. These fibers are responsible for transmitting pain and temperature information from the periphery to the dorsal horn of the spinal cord.

The Lissauer tract is made up of unmyelinated or thinly myelinated fibers that enter the dorsal horn. These fibers then synapse with second-order neurons, which continue the pathway to the brainstem and thalamus.

Damage to the Lissauer tract can result in pain and temperature sensation disturbances, such as increased sensitivity or decreased sensation. This can occur in conditions such as peripheral neuropathy, spinal cord injury, or nerve root compression.

The Lissauer tract is named after the German neurologist Ludwig Lissauer, who first described it in 1891.