Final answer:
The white matter columns in the spinal cord contain ascending tracts that carry sensory information to the brain and descending tracts that carry motor commands from the brain to the spinal cord. These tracts are located in the posterior, anterior, and lateral columns.
Step-by-step explanation:
The white matter columns in the spinal cord contain two types of fiber tracts that connect the spinal cord and brain: ascending tracts and descending tracts. The ascending tracts carry sensory information from the body up to the brain, allowing the brain to perceive sensations such as touch, temperature, and pain.
The descending tracts, on the other hand, carry motor commands from the brain down to the spinal cord to control the body's movements and reflexes.
The areas where these tracts are located include the posterior columns (or dorsal columns), which are composed of axons of ascending tracts that carry sensory information up to the brain. The anterior columns and lateral columns contain a mixture of axons from both ascending and descending tracts,
conveying motor commands to and from the brain, coordinating with peripheral structures for sensory and motor functions. These white matter tracts are crucial for the proper functioning of the central nervous system and the communication between the brain and peripheral structures.