Ventral posterolateral nucleus

The ventral posterolateral nucleus (VPL) is a nucleus of the thalamus. Together with the ventral posteromedial nucleus (VPM), ventral posterior inferior nucleus (VPI) and ventromedial posterior nucleus (VMpo), it constitutes the ventral posterior nucleus. There is uncertainty in 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.[1]

Ventral posterolateral nucleus
Thalamic nuclei
Details
Part ofVentral posterior nucleus
Identifiers
Latinnucleus ventralis posterolateralis thalami
NeuroNames344
NeuroLex IDbirnlex_737
TAA14.1.08.641
A14.1.08.656
FMA62200
Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy

Input and output

The VPL receives information from the neospinothalamic tract and the medial lemniscus 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.

Additional images

References

  1. Willis et al The Journal of Pain 2002;3:79-94; Graziano and Jones, The Journal of Neuroscience 2004;24:248–256


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