THE CORRELATION BETWEEN SUBSTANTIA GELATI NOSA ROLA NDI A ND REXED'S SPJNAL LAMINAE OF MAN / 解剖学报

ABSTRACT

Usually Rexed's lamina Ⅱ of the spinal cord is taken as the substantia gelatinosa Rolandi. This, however, is not based on unequivocal evidence. We have proved in goat ('81) that the substantia gelatinosa Rolandi actually corresponds to laminae Ⅰ, Ⅱ and Ⅲ. The investigation was extended to the human being in the present study.Lumbar_(3,4) spinal segments were cut parasagittally in 3 cases (an adult, a child and a new-born baby). Sections were first examined under a stereomicroscope. The substantia gelatinosa Rolandi could be clearly identified as a semitransparent gelatinous layer. Dorsal to it was a spongy layer with islands of gelatinous material scattered in white matter. The dorsal border of the spongy layer, the boundary between it and the ventral lying gelatinous layer and the ventral border of the latter were marked by razor cuts.The sections were then stained with Nissl method and the cytoarchitecture of the tissue between the cuts was studied. It has been found that the substantia gelatinosa Rolandi of the human being corresponds principally to Rexed's laminae Ⅱand Ⅲ. The overlying spongy layer (lamina Ⅰ) however, composing of scattered, broken gelatinous substance, should also be considered a part of the substanstia gelatinosa.