Dorsal root of spinal nerve

The dorsal root of the spinal nerve consists of bundles of sensory nerve fibers (afferent axons) that transmit information from the body’s periphery (skin, joints, viscera) into the spinal cord. Each dorsal root emerges from the posterior aspect of the spinal cord and joins with the ventral root, forming a mixed spinal nerve. Sensory cell bodies mediating these signals reside in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG), a structure closely associated with each dorsal root. Functionally, the dorsal root segregates sensory inputs to the central nervous system and is critical in somatosensory pathways for touch, temperature, pain, and proprioceptive signals. Injury or disease affecting the dorsal root can lead to sensory deficits or chronic pain syndromes.

Other names

Posterior root of spinal nerveSensory rootDorsal sensory root