The dorsal root is a part of the spine that contains sensory nerve fibers that travel from the periphery of the body to the central nervous system. It is made up of the dorsal root ganglion, the spinal nerve, and the dorsal root entry zone. The primary function of the dorsal root is to transmit sensory information from the body to the brain. This information includes pain, temperature, light touch, and other sensations.
The dorsal root is composed of two components: the dorsal root ganglion and the spinal nerve. The dorsal root ganglion is a collection of neurons located in the back of the spinal cord. These neurons are responsible for receiving and transmitting sensory information from the periphery of the body to the central nervous system. The spinal nerve is a bundle of nerve fibers that travel from the dorsal root ganglion to the spinal cord.
The dorsal root entry zone is located at the intersection of the dorsal root ganglion and the spinal nerve. This is the point at which sensory information enters the central nervous system. The sensory information is then transmitted to the brain via the dorsal root.
The dorsal root is important for the functioning of the nervous system. Damage to the dorsal root can result in sensory disturbances, such as numbness or tingling, and can affect the ability to feel pain or temperature. Additionally, damage to the dorsal root can cause motor disturbances, such as weakness or paralysis.
In summary, the dorsal root is a part of the spine that contains sensory nerve fibers that travel from the periphery of the body to the central nervous system. The primary function of the dorsal root is to transmit sensory information from the body to the brain. The dorsal root is composed of the dorsal root ganglion, the spinal nerve, and the dorsal root entry zone. Damage to the dorsal root can result in sensory and motor disturbances.
References
Kumar, V., Abbas, A.K., Fausto, N., & Aster, J.C. (2015). Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease (9th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier.
Matsumura, S., & Nambu, A. (2015). Neural circuits of the dorsal root ganglia. Frontiers in Neural Circuits, 9(163). doi:10.3389/fncir.2015.00163
Reece, R.A., & Walker, H. (2015). Anatomy and Physiology (6th ed.). San Francisco, CA: Benjamin Cummings.