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Related Concept Videos

Major Somatic Sensory Pathways01:28

Major Somatic Sensory Pathways

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Sensory impulses related to touch, pressure, vibration, and proprioception from various body parts, such as the limbs, trunk, neck, and posterior head, travel to the cerebral cortex through the posterior column-medial lemniscus pathway. The pathway’s name derives from the two white-matter tracts that convey the impulses: the spinal cord's posterior column and the brainstem's medial lemniscus. First-order sensory neurons extend their axons into the spinal cord, forming the...
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Spinal Cord: Cross-sectional Anatomy01:16

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The cross-sectional anatomy of the spinal cord offers a detailed view of its complex structure and function within the central nervous system. At the core of the spinal cord lies the gray matter, characterized by its butterfly or "H"-shaped appearance in cross-section. This central region is enveloped by white matter, with the overall structure divided into symmetrical halves by the dorsal median sulcus and the ventral median fissure.
Gray Matter and its Components
Central to the gray matter is...
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Overview of Somatic Sensory Pathways01:29

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Somatic sensory or somatosensory pathways refer to the neural pathways that carry information related to touch, pressure, pain, temperature, and proprioception from the skin, muscles, tendons, and joints to the brain. These pathways involve several stages of processing and integration of sensory information.
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The dorsal...
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The Spinal Cord01:54

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The spinal cord is the body’s major nerve tract of the central nervous system, communicating afferent sensory information from the periphery to the brain and efferent motor information from the brain to the body. The human spinal cord extends from the hole at the base of the skull, or foramen magnum, to the level of the first or second lumbar vertebra.
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Spinal Cord: Information Processing01:10

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The spinal cord is an integral hub for motor and sensory information that enables the brain to communicate with the peripheral nervous system (PNS). This communication consists of relaying sensory data and transmission of motor commands.
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Thermosensation01:43

Thermosensation

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Peripheral thermosensation is the perception of external temperature. A change in temperature (on the surface of the skin and other tissues) is detected by a family of temperature-sensitive ion channels called Transient Receptor Potential, or TRP, receptors. These receptors are located on free nerve endings. Those detecting cold temperatures are closer to the surface of the skin than the nerve endings detecting warmth. These thermoTRP channels, while temperature selective, have relatively...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 18, 2025

Unilateral Pyramidotomy of the Corticospinal Tract in Rats for Assessment of Neuroplasticity-inducing Therapies
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The human spinothalamic tract: lessons from cordotomy.

Anthony K Allam1, Michael Benjamin Larkin1, Ishan A Patel1

  • 1Department of Neurosurgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.

Brain Communications
|June 27, 2025
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The spinothalamic tract transmits pain and temperature signals. Research, including cordotomy complications, reveals its complex role in autonomic and vital functions.

Keywords:
CT-guidedSTTcomplicationscordotomyspinothalamic tract

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Spinal Cord Anatomy
  • Pain Pathways

Background:

  • The spinothalamic tract is a key pathway for nociceptive information.
  • Historical research, starting with Brown-Sequard in 1860, has shaped our understanding.
  • Advancements in cordotomy procedures refined knowledge of its function and anatomy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide a comprehensive historical review of the spinothalamic tract.
  • To detail the evolution of understanding its somatotopic organization and sensory modalities.
  • To explore the tract's connections with other neural pathways through clinical observations.

Main Methods:

  • Historical literature review.
  • Analysis of clinical observations and complications from cordotomies.
  • Examination of anatomical and physiological studies over centuries.

Main Results:

  • The spinothalamic tract's role in pain and temperature sensation is well-established.
  • Detailed somatotopic organization and anatomical distributions have been elucidated.
  • Complications of cordotomy revealed intricate links to autonomic, respiratory, and motor functions.

Conclusions:

  • The spinothalamic tract is crucial for pain and temperature sensation.
  • Its anatomical and functional understanding has evolved significantly through historical research and clinical studies.
  • The tract's interplay with reticular and spinocerebellar pathways is vital for autonomic and respiratory control.