How Do You Spell CLARKES COLUMN?
Pronunciation: [klˈɑːks kˈɒlʌm] (IPA) 
Correct spelling for the English word "Clarkes column" is [klˈɑːks kˈɒlʌm], [klˈɑːks kˈɒlʌm], [k_l_ˈɑː_k_s k_ˈɒ_l_ʌ_m] (IPA phonetic alphabet).
Pronunciation: [klˈɑːks kˈɒlʌm] (IPA)
Correct spelling for the English word "Clarkes column" is [klˈɑːks kˈɒlʌm], [klˈɑːks kˈɒlʌm], [k_l_ˈɑː_k_s k_ˈɒ_l_ʌ_m] (IPA phonetic alphabet).
Clarkes column refers to a distinctive structural feature found within the spinal cord, named after the British neurologist Charles James Clarke who first identified it. It specifically refers to a group of cells or nuclei located within the gray matter of the spinal cord, running longitudinally in the ventral (front) horn.
More specifically, Clarkes column is situated in the medial aspect of the ventral horn in the regions of the spinal cord referred to as the intermediolateral nucleus of the spinal cord. It extends along the entire length of the spinal cord and is most densely populated in the cervical (neck) and upper thoracic (chest) regions.
Functionally, Clarkes column is involved in the coordination and regulation of voluntary movements, particularly those related to maintaining posture and fine motor control. It receives sensory input from proprioceptors, which are specialized sensory receptors that detect changes in joint angles, muscle tension, and position sense. This information is relayed from the muscle spindles and Golgi tendon organs to Clarkes column through sensory fibers.
Furthermore, Clarkes column is important in contributing to the unconscious proprioceptive reflex known as the "stretch reflex" or "myotatic reflex." This reflex allows for the muscle to contract in response to a rapid stretch, thereby stabilizing joints and maintaining balance.
In summary, Clarkes column is a neural structure within the spinal cord that plays a crucial role in regulating voluntary movements, coordinating posture, and integrating sensory feedback from muscles and joints.
Posterior vesicular column, nucleus dorsalis.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
