Spinothalamic pathway

Spinothalamic Pathway

The Spinothalamic pathway is a part of the sensory system that is involved in the transmission of pain, temperature, and crude touch sensations from the periphery to the brain. This pathway is one of the major sensory pathways of the nervous system and plays a crucial role in the perception of pain and temperature.

Anatomy

The spinothalamic pathway is composed of three neurons: the primary, secondary, and tertiary neurons. The primary neuron's cell body is located in the dorsal root ganglion and sends a peripheral process to the skin and a central process to the spinal cord. The secondary neuron is located in the spinal cord and crosses to the opposite side (decussates) in the spinal cord before ascending to the brain. The tertiary neuron is located in the thalamus and sends projections to the somatosensory cortex.

Function

The spinothalamic pathway carries sensory information related to pain, temperature, and crude touch from the periphery to the brain. The pathway is divided into two tracts: the anterolateral tract (or ventrolateral tract), which carries pain and temperature sensations, and the dorsal column pathway, which carries touch and vibration sensations.

Clinical significance

Damage to the spinothalamic pathway can result in a loss of pain and temperature sensation on the opposite side of the body from the lesion. This is due to the decussation of the secondary neuron in the spinal cord. Conditions that can damage the spinothalamic pathway include stroke, multiple sclerosis, and spinal cord injury.

See also

• Nervous system
• Sensory system
• Pain
• Temperature
• Touch