Final answer:
The two ascending projections of CN 5 nuclei are the nucleus gracilis and the nucleus cuneatus. These nuclei are located in the medulla of the brain stem. Axons from these nuclei terminate in the thalamus and then project to the postcentral gyrus of the cerebral cortex.
Step-by-step explanation:
The two ascending projections of CN 5 nuclei are the nucleus gracilis and the nucleus cuneatus. These nuclei are located in the medulla of the brain stem. The nucleus gracilis is the target of fibers in the fasciculus gracilis, while the nucleus cuneatus is the target of fibers in the fasciculus cuneatus.
The axons from these nuclei continue to ascend the brain stem as a bundle called the medial lemniscus. These axons then terminate in the thalamus, where each synapses with the third neuron in their respective pathway. The third neuron in the system projects its axons to the postcentral gyrus of the cerebral cortex, where somatosensory stimuli are initially processed and the conscious perception of the stimulus occurs.