Final answer:
The anterior and lateral spinothalamic tracts are responsible for carrying pain signals up through the spinal cord. The spinothalamic tract differs from the dorsal column system primarily in the type of sensory information it relays; it is involved in pain and temperature sensation and decussates in the spinal cord.
Step-by-step explanation:
Pain signals travel up through the spinal cord via the anterior and lateral spinothalamic tracts. The spinothalamic tract is one of the main ascending pathways in the spinal cord that also includes the dorsal column system. While the dorsal column system carries information about touch and proprioception and crosses the midline in the medulla, the spinothalamic tract carries the pain and temperature sensations and crosses the midline at the level it enters the spinal cord.
The dorsal column system and the spinothalamic tract originate from sensory neurons in the dorsal root ganglia. These tracts are part of the white matter of the spinal cord, which is separated into columns. The white columns are responsible for conducting different types of sensory information via ascending tracts and motor commands via descending tracts. Understanding the function and pathway of these tracts is essential for diagnosing and treating sensory deficits.