The ventral posterolateral nucleus (VPL) is one of the subdivisions of the ventral posterior nucleus in the ventral nuclear group of the thalamus. It relays sensory information from the second-order neurons of the neospinothalamic tract and medial lemniscus (of the dorsal column-medial lemniscus pathway) which synapse with the third-order neurons in the nucleus. These then project to the primary somatosensory cortex in the postcentral gyrus. There is uncertainty regarding the location of VMpo (posterior part of ventral medial nucleus), as determined by spinothalamic tract (STT) terminations and staining for calcium-binding proteins, and several authorities do not consider its existence as being proved. The term "ventral posterolateral nucleus" was introduced by Le Gros Clark in 1930.

Anatomy

Subdivisions

The oral part of the ventral posterolateral nucleus (nucleus ventrointermedius) in the human, (VPLO) is a subdivision of the VPL with projections to the motor cortex. There is also a caudal part of the ventral posterolateral nucleus (VPLC).

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