Where is sensory information from the heart transmitted to?

Sensory information from the heart is primarily transmitted to the upper thoracic spinal cord. This pathway is crucial because the heart receives its innervation from sympathetic and parasympathetic fibers that originate in the thoracic spinal segments, particularly T1 to T5. These segments have neurons that relay sensory information, such as pain or discomfort, from the heart back to the central nervous system.

When the heart experiences pain, as in conditions like angina or myocardial infarction, the sensory neurons travel along the autonomic pathways. The signals reach the upper thoracic spinal cord, where they synapse with other neurons that then carry this information to the brain for processing.

This transmission is significant in the context of referred pain, where heart-related pain may be perceived in areas like the left arm or shoulder due to the overlapping sensory pathways in the spinal cord. Understanding this connection helps explain how the body perceives sensory information from the heart and can provide insights into diagnosing cardiac-related issues and their symptoms.