Ventral posterolateral nucleus
Encyclopedia
The ventral posterolateral nucleus (VPL) is a nucleus of the thalamus
. Together with the ventral posteromedial nucleus
(VPM), VPI and VMpo, it constitutes the ventral posterior nucleus
.
of the posterior column-medial lemniscus pathway
. It then projects this sensory information to Brodmann's Areas 3, 1 and 2 in the postcentral gyrus
. Collectively, Brodmann areas 3, 1 and 2 make up the primary somatosensory
cortex of the brain.
Thalamus
The thalamus is a midline paired symmetrical structure within the brains of vertebrates, including humans. It is situated between the cerebral cortex and midbrain, both in terms of location and neurological connections...
. Together with the ventral posteromedial nucleus
Ventral posteromedial nucleus
-Inputs and outputs:It conveys information of the trigeminothalamic tract, from the solitary tract and the trigeminal nerve and projects to the postcentral gyrus....
(VPM), VPI and VMpo, it constitutes the ventral posterior nucleus
Ventral posterior nucleus
The ventral posterior nucleus is the somato-sensory relay nucleus in thalamus of the brain.-Input and output:The ventral posterior nucleus receives neuronal input from the medial lemniscus, spinal lemniscus, spinothalamic tracts, and trigeminothalamic tract...
.
Input and output
The VPL receives information from the neospinothalamic tract and the medial lemniscusMedial lemniscus
The medial lemniscus, also known as Reil's band or Reil's ribbon, is a pathway in the brainstem that carries sensory information from the gracile and cuneate nuclei to the thalamus.-Path:...
of the posterior column-medial lemniscus pathway
Posterior column-medial lemniscus pathway
The posterior column-medial lemniscus pathway is the sensory pathway responsible for transmitting fine touch, vibration and conscious proprioceptive information from the body to the cerebral cortex; as well as tactile pressure, barognosis, graphesthesia, stereognosis, recognition...
. It then projects this sensory information to Brodmann's Areas 3, 1 and 2 in the postcentral gyrus
Postcentral gyrus
The lateral postcentral gyrus is a prominent structure in the parietal lobe of the human brain and an important landmark. It is the location of primary somatosensory cortex, the main sensory receptive area for the sense of touch...
. Collectively, Brodmann areas 3, 1 and 2 make up the primary somatosensory
Somatosensory system
The somatosensory system is a diverse sensory system composed of the receptors and processing centres to produce the sensory modalities such as touch, temperature, proprioception , and nociception . The sensory receptors cover the skin and epithelia, skeletal muscles, bones and joints, internal...
cortex of the brain.