Radovan Hudak, David Kachlik Ondre j Voln4 et al

Schemes of somatosensory tracts

21.3

0.

0.

0.

2.

2.

2.

1.

1.

1.

3.

3.

1.

+

+

– order neuron

Receptor

Receptor

Receptor

Spinal 

ganglion

Spinal 

ganglion

Spinal 

ganglion

Gracile and cuneate 

nucleus

Spinal laminae 

I, V, VII, VIII

in the

posterior horn

Spinal laminae 

I, V, VII, VIII

in the

posterior horn

Ventral posterolateral 

nucleus 

Ventral posterolateral 

nucleus 

Internal arcuate 

fibres 

peripheral nerve

protopathic sensation 

(pain, temperature)

second 

pain

tact, touch,

discriminative

sensation,

proprioception

peripheral nerve

peripheral nerve

Gracile and cuneate 

fasciculus 

Medial lemniscus

Anterior and lateral spinothalamic tract

(in the brainstem as the spinal lemniscus

close to the medial lemniscus)

Spinoreticular fibres 

(along with the lateral spinothalamic tract)

Thalamocortical 

tract

Thalamocortical 

tract

decussation of 

medial lemniscus 

decussation

at the level of 

a spinal segment

Primary somatosensory 

cortex (area 3, 1, 2)

Primary somatosensory 

cortex (area 3, 1, 2)

Reticular 

formation

Lemniscal system

Spinothalamic fibres

Spinoreticular fibres

1

1

6

2

2

2

3

6

4

5

1

5

Describe the parts of the diencephalon

VIII. Diencephalon 

1.  List the three parts of the diencephalon which derive from 

the alar plate and describe their position. 

(p. 424)

2.  List the two parts of the diencephalon which derive from 

the basal plate and describe their position. 

(p. 424)

3.  List five structures forming the epithalamus. 

(p. 425)

4.  Characterise the metathalamus. 

(p. 424)

IX. Thalamus

5.  Name the nuclei which belong to the anterior nuclear group. 

(p. 427–429)

6.  Name the nuclei which belong to the midline nuclear group. 

(p. 427–429)

7.  Describe seven nuclei which belong to the lateral nuclear group. 

(p. 427–429)

8.  List functions and integrations of the nuclei posteriores thalami. (

p. 428)

9.  Describe the position of the thalamic motor nuclei. 

(p. 429)

10. Name two somatosensory nuclei of the thalamus. 

(p. 429)

11. Name the thalamic nucleus which is involved 

in processing of gustatory information. 

(p. 429, 467)

12. Describe the connection between the nucleus ventralis anterior, 

cortex, and basal ganglia. 

(p. 429)

13. Describe the difference between the nucleus ventralis lateralis 

and nucleus ventralis posterolateralis from the functional point of view. 

(p. 429)

14. Describe integration and function of the intralaminar nuclei. 

(p. 428)

15. What is the function of the association nuclei of the thalamus? 

(p. 428)