FIGURE 31

ANTEROLATERAL SYSTEM :
PAIN, TEMPERATURE, CRUDE TOUCH

The anterolateral system consists

of two pathways carrying sensory
information from the body regions
to the brainstem and cortex. The
lateral spino-thalamic part
conveys pain and temperature; the
anterior spino-thalamic conveys
crude touch.

This system gives off collaterals to

the brainstem reticular formation.
Some fibres terminate in the
thalamus; others relay in the
ventral posterolateral (VPL)
nucleus of the thalamus to the
postcentral gyrus, the
somatosensory cortex (areas
3,1,2).

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