Nerve roots

Nerve Roots

Nerve roots (pronunciation: /nɜːrv ruːts/) are the initial segment of a nerve leaving the central nervous system. They are responsible for transmitting signals between the brain and the rest of the body.

Etymology

The term "nerve root" is derived from the Latin word "nervus" meaning "sinew, tendon, nerve" and the Old English word "rōt" meaning "root".

Types of Nerve Roots

There are two types of nerve roots:

1. Dorsal root (pronunciation: /ˈdɔːrsəl ruːt/): This is the sensory root that carries sensory information to the brain.
2. Ventral root (pronunciation: /ˈvɛntrəl ruːt/): This is the motor root that carries motor information from the brain.

Related Terms

• Spinal cord: The spinal cord is a long, thin, tubular structure made up of nervous tissue, which extends from the medulla oblongata in the brainstem to the lumbar region of the vertebral column.
• Neuron: A neuron, also known as a nerve cell, is an electrically excitable cell that communicates with other cells via specialized connections called synapses.
• Axon: An axon, or nerve fiber, is a long, slender projection of a nerve cell, or neuron, that conducts electrical impulses away from the neuron's cell body.

See Also

• Spinal nerve
• Peripheral nervous system
• Central nervous system

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