The central cervical nucleus in the cat. I. A Golgi study

The central cervical nucleus (CCN) in the upper cervical cord of the cat was studied with the Golgi rapid, Golgi Cox, and Golgi Kopsch methods. The majority of the neurones were large, multipolar, with dendrites radiating out from the nucleus dorsolaterally, laterally, and ventrally. Occasionally, small triangular or spindle shaped neurones were seen with dendrites following the rounded countour of the CCN. The axons from the large neurones were mostly directed towards the anterior commissure. Occasionally, the initial part of the axons from the smaller neurones were observed. They gave off collaterals within the CCN. The bulk of afferents came from the dorsal funiculus and spread out to form an afferent plexus around the CCN neurones. A small number of afferents was observed from the lateral funiculus. They were thinner than those from the dorsal funiculus and entered the CCN from its lateral aspect. The afferents from the dorsal funiculus had the same orientation as the dorsolaterally directed dendrites and the lateral funicular afferents the same as the laterally oriented dendrites.