Ventral posterolateral nucleus

The ventral posterolateral nucleus (VPL) is a nucleus of the thalamus. Together with the ventral posteromedial nucleus (VPM) it constitutes the ventral posterior nucleus.

Input and output
It projects to the postcentral gyrus and receives information from the spinothalamic tract and the medial lemniscus of the posterior column-medial lemniscus pathway. This information is especially relating to the somatosensory system.