Ventral posterolateral nucleus explained

Ventral posterolateral nucleus
Latin:nucleus ventralis posterolateralis thalami
Ispartof:Ventral posterior nucleus

The ventral posterolateral nucleus (VPL) is a nucleus of ventral posterior nucleus of the thalamus.[1] It relays sensory information from the second-order neurons of the neospinothalamic tract and medial lemniscus (of the posterior column-medial lemniscus pathway) which synapse with in the third-order neurons in the nucleus. These then project to the somatosensory cortex in the postcentral gyrus.

There is uncertainty regarding the location of VMpo, as determined by spinothalamic tract (STT) terminations and staining for calcium-binding proteins, and several authorities do not consider its existence as being proved.

Anatomy

Subdivisions

The nucleus ventralis posterior lateralis pars oralis (VPLo) is a subdivision of the ventral posterolateral thalamus which has substantial projections to the motor cortex.[2]

Notes and References

  1. Willis et al The Journal of Pain 2002;3:79-94; Graziano and Jones, The Journal of Neuroscience 2004;24:248–256
  2. Bornschlegl . M . Asanuma, H . 1987-12-22 . Importance of the projection from the sensory to the motor cortex for recovery of motor function following partial thalamic lesion in the monkey . . 437 . 1 . 121–30 . 10.1016/0006-8993(87)91533-2 . 2827861 . 22353965.