Final answer:
Pain perception is part of the spinothalamic ascending pathways, which project nociceptive information primarily to the thalamus for final processing leading to conscious pain perception.
Step-by-step explanation:
Pain perception is involved in the spinothalamic ascending pathways of the somatosensory system. There are two major ascending pathways in the spinal cord: the dorsal column pathway, which conveys fine touch, vibration, and proprioceptive information, and the spinothalamic pathway, which primarily conveys pain and temperature. The spinothalamic pathway decussates at the level of entry and ascends contralaterally to allow the perception of pain after the nociceptive signals reach the brain for processing.
Nociception starts at the sensory receptors but doesn't become the conscious perception of pain until communicated to the brain. Pathways carrying nociceptive information project mainly to the thalamus and undergo final processing in the primary somatosensory cortex. The proper functioning of these pathways can be assessed through sensory input tests, distinguishing possible damage to these tracts.