Substantia gelatinosa of Rolando

The apex of the posterior horn is capped by a V-shaped or crescentic mass of translucent, gelatinous neuroglia, termed the substantia gelatinosa of Rolando (or gelatinous substance of posterior horn of spinal cord), which contains both neuroglia cells, and small nerve cells. Many μ- and к-opioid receptors, presynaptic and postsynaptic, are found on these nerve cells; they can be targeted to manage pain of distal origin.