The ventral lateral nucleus (VL) is a nucleus in the
ventral nuclear group
The ventral nuclear group is a collection of nuclei on the ventral side of the thalamus. According to MeSH, it consists of the following:
* ventral anterior nucleus
* ventral lateral nucleus
* ventral posterior nucleus – this is made up of two n ...
of the
thalamus
The thalamus (from Greek θάλαμος, "chamber") is a large mass of gray matter located in the dorsal part of the diencephalon (a division of the forebrain). Nerve fibers project out of the thalamus to the cerebral cortex in all directions, ...
.
Inputs and outputs
It receives neuronal inputs from the
basal ganglia
The basal ganglia (BG), or basal nuclei, are a group of subcortical nuclei, of varied origin, in the brains of vertebrates. In humans, and some primates, there are some differences, mainly in the division of the globus pallidus into an exter ...
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 premotor cortex is an area of the motor cortex lying within the frontal lobe of the brain just anterior to the primary motor cortex. It occupies part of Brodmann's area 6. It has been studied mainly in primates, including monkeys and humans ...
.
The ventral lateral nucleus in the thalamus forms the motor functional division in the
thalamic nuclei
This traditional list does not accord strictly with human thalamic anatomy.
Nuclear groups of the thalamus include:
*anterior nuclear group
** anteroventral nucleus
** anterodorsal nucleus
** anteromedial nucleus
**superficial ("lateral dorsal" ...
along with the
ventral anterior nucleus
The ventral anterior nucleus (VA) is a nucleus of the thalamus. It acts with the anterior part of the ventral lateral nucleus to modify signals from the basal ganglia.
Inputs and outputs
The ventral anterior nucleus receives neuronal inputs from t ...
. 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.
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.
[Crosson, B., (1992). Subcortical Functions in Language and Memory. New York: The Guliford Press.]
Clinical significance
A lesion of the VL has been associated with
synesthesia.
Additional images
File:Constudthal.gif, Thalamus
File:Territoriostalamo.svg, Thalamus
References
External links
*
{{Neural tracts
Thalamus