nerverøtter

Nerverøtter, the Norwegian term for nerve roots, are the initial segments of spinal nerves as they emerge from the spinal cord. They carry motor signals from the central nervous system to the body and transmit sensory information from the body back to the CNS. Each spinal nerve is formed by the convergence of a dorsal (posterior) root, which carries sensory fibers, and a ventral (anterior) root, which carries motor fibers. The dorsal roots contain dorsal root ganglia, housing the cell bodies of sensory neurons.

From the spinal cord, the dorsal and ventral roots travel within the vertebral canal and join to form a mixed spinal nerve at each level. Spinal nerves exit the spinal column through the intervertebral foramina. The naming of nerve roots corresponds to the vertebral level; there are eight cervical nerve roots (C1–C8), with C8 exiting between C7 and T1; thoracic (T1–T12), lumbar (L1–L5), and sacral (S1–S5) roots. Each root contributes to specific dermatomes and myotomes, providing a map of sensory and motor distribution.

Clinical relevance focuses on damage or irritation of a nerve root, such as from a herniated disc or spinal stenosis, which can cause radiculopathy. Symptoms include sharp or burning pain along the root’s dermatome, numbness or tingling, weakness in the corresponding muscles, and altered reflexes. Diagnosis relies on clinical examination and imaging (often MRI). Treatment ranges from conservative approaches, including physical therapy and analgesia, to surgical decompression in persistent or severe cases.