Spinothalamic tract
Tractus spinothalamici
- Latin synonym: Fibrae spinothalamicae
- Synonym: Spinothalamic fibers
- Related terms: Spinothalamic fibres
Definition
The spinothalamic tract is a major component of the anterolateral system, an ascending sensory pathway of the central nervous system. It transmits sensory impulses related to nociception (pain), temperature, light (crude) touch, and pressure.
The spinothalamic tract is divided into two components:
Lateral spinothalamic tract: Responsible for transmitting information about nociception (pain) and temperature.
Anterior spinothalamic tract: Responsible for transmitting sensory information related to light (crude) touch and pressure.
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
