Point 2


Intro

Pathway

Deficits

Note

Clinical

Overview

Problems


Contents

 Anatomy

 

 

Point: 2. Anterolateral System

Function:
Pain and temperature from the opposite (contra.) side of the body (arm, trunk and leg).

Pathway:
Dorsal horn neurons of the spinal cord possess axons that decussate and ascend as the lateral and ventral spinothalamic tracts in the anterolateral part of the spinal cord (A.L.S.). These axons pass through the brainstem to reach the V.P.L. of the thalamus. Neurons in the V.P.L. project to somatosensory cortex (areas 3,1, 2).

Deficits:
Loss of pain and temperature from the contra. side of the body (arm, trunk and leg).

Other Note:
Descending autonomic fibers from the hypothalamus travel with the ALS in the brainstem on their way to the lateral cell column (pregang. sym. cells) of ipsi. spinal cord. Lesion involving ALS=contra. loss pain and temp. AND CONSTRICTED pupil in IPSI. eye and ptosis.