Ventral posterolateral nucleus
The ventral posterolateral nucleus is one of the subdivisions of the ventral posterior nucleus in the ventral nuclear group of the thalamus. It relays sensory information from second-order neurons of the neospinothalamic tract and the medial lemniscus, which synapse with third-order neurons in the nucleus. These then project to the primary somatosensory cortex in the postcentral gyrus.
There is uncertainty regarding the location of VMpo, as determined by spinothalamic tract terminations and calcium-binding protein staining, and several authorities do not consider its existence as being proved.
The term "ventral posterolateral nucleus" was introduced by Le Gros Clark in 1930.
Anatomy
Subdivisions
The oral part of the ventral posterolateral nucleus in the human, is a subdivision of the VPL with projections to the motor cortex.There is also a caudal part of the ventral posterolateral nucleus.