Trigeminothalamic Tract

Authors

Affiliations

Nathaniel Yomogida, B.S., SPT

Doctor of Physical Therapy

B.S. in Kinesiology

Chloë Kerstein, B.S., SPT

Doctor of Physical Therapy

B.A. in Neuroscience

“Crossed fibers originated from the ventral part of the nucleus ascend in association with the contralateral medial lemniscus to form ventral trigeminothalamic tract.”¹

“Uncrossed fibers originated from the dorsomedial part of the nucleus ascend close to the central gray of the midbrain to form dorsal trigeminothalamic tract”

“. Pain and temperature sensation for the face is carried by an analogous pathway called the trigeminothalamic tract, to be discussed further in Chapter 12 (see Figure 12.8; Table 12.6).”²

Function

The Trigeminothalamic tract is analagous to the spinothalamic tract, but provides temperature and pain sensation for the face²

References

1.

Joo W, Yoshioka F, Funaki T, Mizokami K, Rhoton AL. Microsurgical anatomy of the trigeminal nerve. Clinical Anatomy. 2014;27(1):61-88. doi:10.1002/ca.22330

2.

Blumenfeld H. Neuroanatomy Through Clinical Cases. 3rd ed. Oxford university press; 2022.