Laboratory 12 : Tract Systems I
  Somatosensory System : Neospinothalamic Tract  
    Previous Slide Next Slide   

Neospinothalamic Tract

It is important to note that:

  • There are only three neurons in entire tract from the spinal cord all the way to the neocortex
  • Somatosensory for entire spinal cord (so trunk and limbs).
  • Decussation: At level of entry, throughout spinal cord.
  • Carries all submodalities that DC-ML does AND pain and temperature.

 

Slide 90 : Telencephalon
  • Axons synapse on 1º somatosensory cortex in cerebrum.

Slide 67 : Diencephalon

  • Axons synapse in VPL (Lateral Projection Nuclei) in thalamus.
  • VPL axons pass into internal capsule to cerebrum.
  • Axons procede towards 1º somatosensory cortex.

Slide 45 : Pons/Midbrain

  • Axons continue through medial leminiscus.

Slide 26 : Medulla

  • Axons continue through medial leminiscus.

Slide 18 : Caudal Medulla

  • Axons continue through medial lemniscus (enters medial leminiscus more rostrally than Dorsocolumn Medial Lemniscal Tract.)
Slide 8 : C6
  • Axons of sensory neurons in rostral trunk and forelimbs enter dorsal root and synapse on tract cells (projection neurons) there.
  • Tract cell axons decussate and course through ventrolateral funiculus.

Slide 2 : L6

  • Axons of sensory neurons in caudal trunk and hindlimbs enter dorsal root and synapse on tract cells (projection neurons) there.
  • Tract cell axons decussate and course through ventrolateral funiculus.

Copyright © 2006 - University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, All rights reserved.
Faculty: Dr. Richard Miselis, Dr. Peter Hand
Students: Natalie Fickel V'12, Ryan Donahue V'09, Cara Catanese V’08, Rebecca Wolf V'06, Keith Javic V'03, Ken Bixel V'99, Russel Howe-Smith V'97