The Medial Lemniscus in Lizards 
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Figure 7. Degeneration seen in section somewhat rostral to that shown in Fig. 6. 
this cell group may be homologous to the 
mammalian posterior nucleus (PO). The 
ventral spinothalamic pathway takes the 
same course as the medial lemniscus fibers 
described here and terminates in the ventro- 
lateral area of the thalamus, here tentatively 
labeled as the ventrobasal complex (Vb). 
This projection, probably homologous to the 
mammalian spinal lemniscus, appears very 
small in all reptiles examined, except in the 
alligator, where the fibers were readily 
traced to their termination (Ebbesson and 
Goodman, 1976). It is from this zone (Vb) 
that Belekhova and Kosareva (1971) re- 
ported electrical activity following somatic 
sensory stimulation. The efferent projections 
of Vb remain unknown, but it is likely that, 
as in mammals, the main target is in the 
telencephalon (Belekhova and Kosareva, 
1971). 
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS 
DCN nucleus funiculus dorsalis 
GC Grisea centralis 
