(D) Ventral posterolateral > Thalamus comprises a subcortical collection of nuclei that surrounds the third ventricle> This structure serves as a relay center not only for sensory projections (including vision and hearing), also for basal ganglionic, cerebellar, limbic and cortical structures.> Most of the thalamic subnuclei named for their anatomic position within the structure itself.> Following subnuclei are named with their corresponding efferent projections. Ventral posterolateral (VPL) a primary sensory cortex Pulvinar a inferior parietal lobule Lateral geniculate (LG) a primary visual cortex (occipital lobe) Medial geniculate (MG) a auditory cortex (temporal lobe) Dorsomedial (DM) a prefrontal cortex Ventrolateral (VL) a primary motor cortex. Anterior a cingulate gyrus> These same subnuclei have important afferent connections also that correspond with their output projections: Medial lemniscus and spinothalamic tracts a VPL Mammillary body & mammillothalamic tract a anterior nucleus (limbic) Optic tract a LG lateral lemniscus and inferior colliculus a MG amygdala & temporal neocortex a DM dentate nucleus, globus pallidus, & substantia nigra a (cerebellar & basal ganglionic)