Spinothalamic tract
Spinothalamic Tract
The Spinothalamic Tract (pronounced: spi-no-tha-la-mic tract) is a part of the Anterolateral System or the Ventral White Column of the Spinal Cord. It is responsible for transmitting pain, temperature, and crude touch sensations from the periphery to the Thalamus in the brain.
Etymology
The term 'Spinothalamic' is derived from two words: 'Spino', which refers to the Spinal Cord, and 'Thalamic', which refers to the Thalamus. Thus, the term 'Spinothalamic Tract' refers to the neural pathway that connects the spinal cord to the thalamus.
Anatomy
The Spinothalamic Tract is divided into two main parts: the Anterior Spinothalamic Tract and the Lateral Spinothalamic Tract. The Anterior Spinothalamic Tract carries information about crude touch and pressure, while the Lateral Spinothalamic Tract carries information about pain and temperature.
Function
The primary function of the Spinothalamic Tract is to transmit sensory information from the periphery to the brain. This information includes pain, temperature, and crude touch sensations. The information is first received by the Nociceptors and Thermoreceptors in the skin and other tissues, which then send signals to the spinal cord via the Spinothalamic Tract. From the spinal cord, the signals are sent to the thalamus in the brain, where they are processed and interpreted.
Related Terms
- Anterolateral System
- Ventral White Column
- Spinal Cord
- Thalamus
- Anterior Spinothalamic Tract
- Lateral Spinothalamic Tract
- Nociceptors
- Thermoreceptors
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Spinothalamic tract
- Wikipedia's article - Spinothalamic tract
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