Rückenmarkswurzeln

Rückenmarkswurzeln, also known as spinal nerve roots, are the origins of the spinal nerves that connect the spinal cord to the peripheral nervous system. These roots emerge from the spinal cord and then merge to form the spinal nerves. There are two types of spinal nerve roots: dorsal (posterior) roots and ventral (anterior) roots.

The dorsal roots carry sensory information from the body towards the spinal cord and brain. Within the dorsal root, there is a swelling called the dorsal root ganglion, which contains the cell bodies of sensory neurons. The ventral roots, on the other hand, carry motor commands from the spinal cord to the muscles and glands. The cell bodies of motor neurons are located within the gray matter of the spinal cord.

The dorsal and ventral roots join together outside the spinal cord to form a mixed spinal nerve, which contains both sensory and motor fibers. These spinal nerves then branch out to innervate specific regions of the body. The arrangement of these roots and nerves is segmental, meaning that each spinal nerve pair is associated with a specific level of the spinal cord. Damage to the spinal nerve roots can result in a variety of neurological symptoms, including pain, numbness, weakness, and loss of reflexes, depending on the specific root affected and the type of fibers it contains.