Final answer:
The lateral spinothalamic tract is responsible for transmitting pain and temperature sensations to the brain. It begins in the dorsal root ganglion, with neurons synapsing in the spinal cord before ascending to the thalamus and cerebral cortex.
Step-by-step explanation:
The lateral spinothalamic tract is primarily concerned with transmitting pain and temperature sensations from the body to the brain. It is part of the ascending tracts in the spinal cord, which are segregated between the dorsal column and spinothalamic pathways. Neurons in the dorsal root ganglion send axons to the dorsal horn of the spinal cord, where they synapse with second neurons that project across the midline to ascend contralaterally to the thalamus. These neurons then project to the spinothalamic tract, which terminates in the postcentral gyrus of the cerebral cortex, allowing the brain to process these sensory signals.