Dorsal (posterior) nerve root

Definition

The dorsal nerve root is a bundle of sensory nerve fibers that attach to the dorsal aspect of the spinal cord, carrying sensory information from the peripheral body parts to the central nervous system. It is one of two roots that connect each spinal nerve to a segment of the spinal cord.

Related terms

Central Nervous System (CNS): The complex network of neurons and cells in the brain and spinal cord responsible for processing all bodily functions and responses.

Sensory neurons: Nerve cells that transmit sensory information (sight, sound, touch, etc.) from the outer parts of your body towards the central nervous system.

Spinal cord: A long, thin, tubular structure made up of nervous tissue, which extends from the medulla oblongata in the brainstem down to the lumbar region of the vertebral column; acts as a superhighway for messages between the body and brain