[2] After neurons carrying somatosensory proprioceptive or fine touch information synapse at the gracile and cuneate nuclei, axons from second-order neurons decussate at the level of the medulla and travel up the brainstem as the medial lemniscus on the contralateral (opposite) side.

[citation needed] The medial lemniscus carries axons from most of the body and terminates by synapsing with third-order neurons in the ventral posterolateral nucleus of the thalamus.

Sensory axons transmitting information from the head and neck via the trigeminal nerve synapse at the ventral posteromedial nucleus of the thalamus.

The cuneate and gracile nuclei reside at the closed (lower) medulla, so the medial lemniscus is not formed at this level.

In the midbrain, it is situated dorsal to the substantia nigra, and medial to either red nucleus.