Which part of the spinal cord is affected in subacute combined degeneration?

Subacute combined degeneration primarily affects the dorsal and lateral columns of the spinal cord. This condition is often associated with vitamin B12 deficiency and results in the degeneration of specific neural pathways.

The dorsal columns, which include the fasciculus cuneatus and fasciculus gracilis, are responsible for transmitting proprioception, vibration sense, and fine touch. The lateral columns contain the corticospinal tracts and spinocerebellar tracts, which are essential for voluntary motor control and coordination.

In subacute combined degeneration, patients may experience symptoms such as sensory ataxia, loss of vibration and proprioceptive sense, and motor weakness due to the disruption of these pathways. This is why disturbances in the dorsal and lateral columns lead to the clinical manifestations observed in this condition.