Trisha Shetty (Editor)

Ventral posterior nucleus

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Part of
  
Thalamus

NeuroNames
  
hier-326

Ventral posterior nucleus

Latin
  
Nucleus ventralis posterior thalami

NeuroLex ID
  
Ventral posterior nucleus

The ventral posterior nucleus is the somato-sensory relay nucleus in thalamus of the brain.

Contents

Input and output

The ventral posterior nucleus receives neuronal input from the medial lemniscus, spinothalamic tracts, and trigeminothalamic tract. It projects to the somatosensory cortex and the ascending reticuloactivation system.

Subdivisions

The ventral posterior nucleus is divided into:

  • Ventral posterolateral nucleus, which receives sensory information from the body.
  • Ventral posteromedial nucleus, which receives sensory information from the head and face via the trigeminal nerve.
  • Ventral intermediate nucleus, implicated in oscillatory tremor generation in Parkinson's disease and essential tremor.

    • Function

    Functions in touch, body position, pain, temperature, itch, taste, and arousal. Modulates tremor in certain pathology.

    References

    Ventral posterior nucleus Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA