Answer :
Final answer:
The olfactory pathway does not pass through the thalamus before terminating in the cerebral cortex, unlike the auditory, visual, and somatosensory pathways. d) Somatosensory pathway
Explanation:
The question asks which sensory pathway does not pass through the thalamus before terminating in the cerebral cortex. Based on the provided information and known neuroanatomical pathways, the correct answer is the olfactory pathway. Unlike the auditory, visual, and somatosensory pathways, which are processed through specific nuclei of the thalamus before being relayed to their respective areas in the cerebral cortex, the olfactory signals are routed directly to the olfactory bulb, which then sends these signals to different parts of the olfactory system, bypassing the thalamus entirely.
