The lateral spinothalamic tract carries pain and temperature from the opposite side of the body to the thalamus. Its fibres start in the dorsal horn, cross within one or two segments through the anterior white commissure, and ascend in the lateral cord. Together with the anterior spinothalamic tract it forms the anterolateral system.
| Location | Anterolateral part of the lateral funiculus of the spinal cord, continuing up the lateral brainstem as the spinal lemniscus |
|---|---|
| Parts |
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| Connections |
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| Blood Supply | Anterior spinal artery |
Conveys sharp and burning pain and hot and cold temperature from the opposite side of the body to the brain.
A lesion of this tract causes loss of pain and temperature on the opposite side, starting one or two segments below the lesion. Anterolateral cordotomy, cutting this tract, has been used to relieve severe one-sided cancer pain. Because sacral fibres are outermost, intrinsic cord tumours may spare sacral sensation (sacral sparing).
Loss of pain and temperature sensation on the opposite side of the body below a cord lesion, as in Brown-Sequard syndrome.
Preserved pain sensation around the perineum with central cord tumours because the outermost sacral fibres are compressed last.
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