Spinothalamic Tract 3.23.21

3D Model

First order axons carrying nociceptive and temperature information enter into the spinal cord via the dorsal root. They terminate in the dorsal horn of the grey matter where they synapse with second order neurons. The second order neurons cross the midline in the anterior white commissure and ascend to the brain in the anterolateral white matter (creating the Spinothalamic Tract). These axons synapse with third order neurons in the thalamus. The third order thalamic neurons project to the primary somatosensory cortex located in the postcentral gyrus of the parietal lobe as well as the association sensory cortex (also parietal lobe).