NeuroNames hier-602 FMA 72500 | TA A14.1.05.312 | |
Latin tractus trigeminothalamicus posterior NeuroLex ID Dorsal trigeminal tract | ||
The posterior trigeminothalamic tract (or dorsal trigeminothalamic tract) is composed of second order neuronal axons. These fibers carry sensory information about discriminative touch and conscious proprioception in the oral cavity from the principal (chief sensory) nucleus to the ventral posteromedial (VPM) nucleus of the thalamus.
Unlike the anterior trigeminothalamic tract, the posterior trigeminothalamic tract does not cross the midline.
The posterior trigeminothalamic tract is also called the posterior trigeminal lemniscus.
Pathway
The first order neurons (from the trigeminal ganglion) enter the medulla and synapse in the principal (chief sensory) nucleus. Axons of the second order neurons then ascend to the ventral posteromedial nucleus of the ipsilateral thalamus, forming the posterior trigeminothalamic tract. The third order neurons in the thalamus ascend to the sensory cortex of the postcentral gyrus.