The anterolateral system is the group of ascending tracts in the front and side of the spinal cord that carry pain, temperature and crude touch. It includes the spinothalamic, spinoreticular and spinomesencephalic tracts.
| Location | Anterolateral white matter of the spinal cord, ascending through the brainstem |
|---|---|
| Parts |
|
| Connections | |
| Blood Supply | Anterior spinal artery; Vertebral and basilar artery branches |
Conveys pain and temperature for localisation, arousal and emotional response.
Fibres cross within one or two segments, so cord damage causes loss of pain and temperature on the opposite side starting slightly below the level (as in Brown-Sequard syndrome). Surgical cordotomy cutting this system has been used for severe cancer pain.
Half-cord injury with opposite-side loss of pain and temperature and same-side weakness.
Loss of pain, temperature and motor function with preserved vibration sense.
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