Anterolateral fasciculus
Fasciculus anterolateralis
- Latin synonym: Tractus anterolaterales
- Synonym: Anterolateral tracts; Ventrolateral fasciculus; Ventrolateral tracts
Definition
The Anterolateral fasciculus (a.k.a. the Anterolateral System, ALS), is a major ascending sensory pathway within the central nervous system that carries information about nociception (pain), temperature, light (crude) touch, and pressure.
It comprises three primary tracts:
The spinothalamic tract,
The spinoreticular tract, and
These tracts collectively ascend through the anterolateral quadrant of the spinal cord white matter.
References
Warren, S., Yezierski, R.P., & Capra, N.F. (2018). Chapter 18 - The Somatosensory System II: Nociception, Thermal Sense, and Touch. In Haines, D.E., & Mihailoff, G.A. (Eds.), Fundamental Neuroscience for Basic and Clinical Applications (5th ed., pp. 258-277.e1). Elsevier. ISBN: 9780323396325. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-39632-5.00018-9
