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Medical Definition of spinothalamic tract
: any of four tracts of nerve fibers of the spinal cord that are arranged in pairs with one member of a pair on each side and that ascend to the thalamus by way of the brain stem:
a : one on each side of the anterior median fissure that carries nerve impulses relating to the sense of touch
— called also anterior spinothalamic tract, ventral spinothalamic tract
b : one on each lateral part of the spinal cord that carries nerve impulses relating to the senses of touch, pain, and temperature
— called also lateral spinothalamic tract
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