The ventral posterior complex is the main relay for sensory inputs to reach the cerebral cortex and it can be divided into at least three main parts: the ventral posterolateral nucleus (VPL) receiving spinal somatosensory inputs, the ventral posteromedial nucleaus (VPM) receiving trigeminal somatosensory inputs, and the parvicellular medial parts of both the VPL and VPM, i.e., the VPPC, which forms the main thalamic relay for gustatory and visceral ascending pathways.