Final answer:
The pain message is relayed from the spinal cord to the thalamus, which acts as a major sensory relay station before reaching the cerebral cortex for conscious perception.
Step-by-step explanation:
The pain message is relayed from the spinal cord to the thalamus and then projected to the cerebral cortex, making us aware of the location and intensity of the damage. The thalamus acts as a sensory relay station where all sensory information, except for the sense of smell, is processed before being sent to other areas of the brain for further processing. It is particularly involved in the transmission of nociceptive or pain information to the cerebral cortex where the conscious perception of pain occurs.
Moreover, the thalamus is not merely a relay but also involved in the processing of sensory information. It determines which sensory stimuli are important and what receives attention before the signal reaches the cerebrum for conscious perception. Information from the thalamus is then mapped onto the somatosensory cortex, following the sensory topography to allow for accurate location of the pain stimulus.