Ventral lateral nucleus

Ventral lateral nucleus
Thalamic nuclei:
MNG = Midline nuclear group
AN = Anterior nuclear group
MD = Medial dorsal nucleus
VNG = Ventral nuclear group
VA = Ventral anterior nucleus
VL = Ventral lateral nucleus
VPL = Ventral posterolateral nucleus
VPM = Ventral posteromedial nucleus
LNG = Lateral nuclear group
PUL = Pulvinar
MTh = Metathalamus
LG = Lateral geniculate nucleus
MG = Medial geniculate nucleus
Thalamic nuclei
Identifiers
NeuroNames337
NeuroLex IDbirnlex_1237
Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy
[edit on Wikidata]

The ventral lateral nucleus (VL) is a nucleus in the ventral nuclear group of the thalamus.

Inputs and outputs

It receives neuronal inputs from the basal ganglia which includes the substantia nigra and the globus pallidus (via the thalamic fasciculus). It also has inputs from the cerebellum (via the dentatothalamic tract).

It sends neuronal output to the primary motor cortex and premotor cortex.

The ventral lateral nucleus in the thalamus forms the motor functional division in the thalamic nuclei along with the ventral anterior nucleus. The ventral lateral nucleus receives motor information from the cerebellum and the globus pallidus. Output from the ventral lateral nucleus then goes to the primary motor cortex.[1]

Functions

The function of the ventral lateral nucleus is to target efferents including the motor cortex, premotor cortex, and supplementary motor cortex. Therefore, its function helps the coordination and planning of movement. It also plays a role in the learning of movement.[2]

Clinical significance

A lesion of the VL has been associated with synesthesia.[3]

Additional images

  • Thalamus
    Thalamus
  • Thalamus
    Thalamus

References

  1. ^ Orrison Jr., W. (2008). Atlas of Brain Function. New York: Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc.
  2. ^ Crosson, B., (1992). Subcortical Functions in Language and Memory. New York: The Guliford Press.
  3. ^ Ro T, Farnè A, Johnson RM, et al. (2007). "Feeling sounds after a thalamic lesion". Annals of Neurology. 62 (5): 433–41. doi:10.1002/ana.21219. PMID 17893864.

External links

  • Stained brain slice images which include the "ventral+lateral+nucleus+of+thalamus" at the BrainMaps project
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Anatomy of the diencephalon of the human brain
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