Spinothalamic Tract

Question 1

What is the function of the STT?

Answer 1

Relays information on pain and temperature.

Question 2

Describe the STT pathway.

Answer 2

1. First order fibers synapse in nucleus proprius in dorsal horn of spinal cord.
2. Second order fibers cross midline in spinal cord and move to lateral funiculus. They go up to VPL thalamus as the spinothalamic tract.
3. Third order fibers go from VPL to area 312.

Question 3

Describe myelination pattern of STT pathway.

Answer 3

Lightly myelinated (travel in lateral funiculus).

Question 4

Describe a Brown-Sequard lesion.

Answer 4

Loss/damage of half of spinal cord. Will result in loss of proprioception on side of lesion (DCP crosses midline in medulla) and loss of pain/temp on contralateral side (STT crosses midline in vertebra cord).

Question 5

Where does the STT pathway cross the midline?

Answer 5

In the vertebral cord.