Final answer:
Fibers of the spinothalamic tract carry pain and temperature sensations to the brain, synapsing in the thalamus before projecting to the cerebral cortex where pain is perceived.
Step-by-step explanation:
The spinothalamic tract is a sensory pathway originating in the dorsal root ganglion, which is part of the peripheral nervous system. Fibers of the spinothalamic tract carry the sensations of pain and temperature from the body to the brain.
Once these fibers reach the brain, they deliver pain information directly to the thalamus. The fibers synapse with the third neuron in their pathway at the thalamus. These axons from the third neuron then project to the postcentral gyrus of the cerebral cortex, which responsible for processing somatosensory information, including pain perception.