As different types of sensory signals enter the spinal cordThe main nerve trunk running down the spinal canal and connecting the individual’s mind and consciousness to the rest of his or her body. It is about the size of a person’s little finger, in diameter. It cannot repair itself if damaged., from the peripheralFrom the Greek and meaning “around”, or away from the centre, this word refers to those parts of the nervous system that lie outside the head and spine or, more accurately, outside the brain and the spinal cord. Together they constitute the peripheral nervous system, which itself is made up of sensory nerves, nerves controlling motor functions and autonomic components. nerves, they take different routes on their way up to the brain. The two main pathways are the dorsal columnsTracts of nerve fibres that pass up the back of the spinal cord. They carry those signals from the body that convey information about light touch and proprioception. Most operations on the spinal cord itself involve an approach from the back so the dorsal columns may be damaged by the surgical dissection, sometimes inevitably. Patients are normally warned that some loss of light touch sensation and/or joint position sense may result from any such surgery and that such loses this can cause significant disability., which convey light-touch and joint position senses, and the spinothalamic tracts, which conduct pain and temperature sensations. The dorsal columnsTracts of nerve fibres that pass up the back of the spinal cord. They carry those signals from the body that convey information about light touch and proprioception. Most operations on the spinal cord itself involve an approach from the back so the dorsal columns may be damaged by the surgical dissection, sometimes inevitably. Patients are normally warned that some loss of light touch sensation and/or joint position sense may result from any such surgery and that such loses this can cause significant disability. run along the back of the spinal cordThe main nerve trunk running down the spinal canal and connecting the individual’s mind and consciousness to the rest of his or her body. It is about the size of a person’s little finger, in diameter. It cannot repair itself if damaged.; the spinothalamic tracts lie on its sides, more towards the front.