Where do somatosensory pathways generally carry signals?

• A. to the spinal cord
• B. to the CNS (primary sensory cortex)
• C. to the peripheral nerves
• D. to the autonomic ganglia

Answer: (B)

Somatosensory information is carried to the central nervous system for conscious perception, with the primary destination being the primary somatosensory cortex. After receptors in the body send signals through peripheral nerves and into the spinal cord, these signals travel upward (via dorsal column–medial lemniscus or spinothalamic pathways), reach the thalamus, and are relayed to the primary somatosensory cortex in the postcentral gyrus. This cortical area processes touch, proprioception, temperature, and pain to create our conscious sense of body sensation. The other options point to earlier parts of the route (spinal cord, peripheral nerves) or to a different system (autonomic ganglia) and don’t describe where somatosensory information ends up for conscious perception.