A patient with a left thalamic infarct affecting the ventral posterolateral (VPL) nucleus has contralateral hemisensory loss. Which thalamic nucleus relays cerebellar and basal ganglia output to motor cortex?

• A Ventral posteromedial (VPM)
• B Centromedian (CM)
• C Mediodorsal (MD)
• D Ventral lateral (VL) ✓

Explanation

The ventral lateral nucleus of the thalamus is the primary relay for dentato-rubro-thalamic fibres from the cerebellum and pallido-thalamic fibres from the basal ganglia, projecting to the primary motor cortex (area 4) and premotor cortex. VPL relays contralateral body proprioception and touch (medial lemniscus and spinothalamic input). VPM relays facial sensation (trigeminal). The centromedian nucleus is an intralaminar nucleus involved in arousal and basal ganglia circuitry. Mediodorsal nucleus connects to the prefrontal cortex.

Reference: BD Chaurasia's Human Anatomy, 8th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.