What does the Spinomesencephalic tract do?
aka spinotectal tract, the spinomesencephalic tract is part of the anterolateral system; it terminates in the periaqeductal gray of the midbrain. The periaqueductal grey is thought to be an area that is important to inhibiting or controlling pain sensations and so the spinomesencephalic tract contributes to that role.
What is the pathway of pain and temperature?
The lateral spinothalamic tract focuses on transmission of the pain and temperature sensation, while the anterior spinothalamic tract carries information related to the crude touch and firm pressure sensation towards the thalamus in the brain.
Where does the pain pathway cross?
The axons of these second-order neurons in laminae IV–VI (which are collectively known as the nucleus proprius) cross the midline and ascend all the way to the brainstem and thalamus in the anterolateral (also called ventrolateral) quadrant of the contralateral half of the spinal cord.
What is Spinotectal pathway?
The spinothalamic tract is an ascending pathway of the spinal cord. Together with the medial lemnicus, it is one of the most important sensory pathways of the nervous system. It is responsible for the transmission of pain, temperature, and crude touch to the somatosensory region of the thalamus.
What is the function of anterolateral pathway?
Another major sensory pathway is called the anterolateral system (ALS), also called the spinothalamic tracts (Figure 3, left side). This sensory system carries information about noxious stimuli, temperature stimuli, and deep touch.
What is upregulation of nociceptive pathways?
If upregulation of non-opioid-dependent ascending nociceptive pathways is shown to be a cause of pain from opioid tolerance or opioid-induced hyperalgesia, providers may consider adding GABA agonist to the medication regime of opioid-tolerant patients.
How does the pain pathway work?
There are two main pathways that carry nociceptive signals to higher centres in the brain. The spinothalamic tract: secondary afferent neurones decussate within a few segments of the level of entry into the spinal cord and ascend in the contralateral spinothalamic tract to nuclei within the thalamus.