Spinothalamic tract

The **spinothalamic tract** is an ascending sensory pathway in the spinal cord consisting of two main subdivisions—the anterior and lateral spinothalamic tracts—which together form part of the anterolateral (also called ventrolateral) system[1][2][4][5]. This tract transmits sensory information from the periphery to the thalamus and onward to the primary somatosensory cortex. The anterior spinothalamic tract mainly carries signals of crude touch and firm pressure, while the lateral spinothalamic tract transmits pain and temperature sensations. Both divisions decussate—cross over to the opposite side—within the spinal cord, not the brainstem. The pathway involves three neurons: first-order pseudounipolar neurons in dorsal root ganglia, second-order neurons in the spinal cord dorsal horn (substantia gelatinosa or nucleus proprius), and third-order neurons in the thalamic nuclei (primarily the ventral posterolateral nucleus)[1][2][4]. The tract is crucial for quick withdrawal reflexes and the affective/emotional experience of pain. While this tract is extremely important in neurophysiology and clinical neurology, it is not itself a molecular therapeutic target such as a receptor, enzyme, or channel, but rather is a **composite anatomical nerve tract** composed of many axons[2][4]. Dysfunction, damage, or disease affecting the spinothalamic tract can lead to deficits in pain, temperature, or crude touch sensation and can be involved in neurodegenerative diseases and specific neurological syndromes, but drugs do not interact with the spinothalamic tract directly as a molecular target[4][6]. Further details: - **Is_incorrect:** The query refers to an anatomical/pathway structure, not a molecular entity or therapeutic drug target as usually defined for such lists[2][4]. - **Aliases:** Sometimes called "anterolateral system" or teased into its subcomponents (anterior and lateral spinothalamic tracts)[1][2]. - **Not a druggable target:** The tract consists of bundled axons (nerve fibers), not a single gene, protein, or drug target. - **Clinical context:** Pathology affecting the spinothalamic tract is relevant in neurology (e.g., spinal cord injury, neurodegenerative disease, syringomyelia)[4][6]. No drugs are known to interact with the tract as a whole or in a molecularly specific fashion.

Other names

anterior spinothalamic tractlateral spinothalamic tractventral spinothalamic tractspinothalamic tractsanterolateral systemventrolateral system