Dorsal root

Organization and role

The dorsal root joins the ventral root to form a mixed spinal nerve. It differs from the dorsal ramus, a branch arising after that junction.

Clinical relevance and investigation

Irritation may alter sensation or generate radicular pain. Pain distribution is not a perfect anatomical map, however, because territories overlap.

Points to consider

A root, plexus and peripheral nerve are different levels of the nervous system. Limb pain alone cannot distinguish them. The distribution of sensory changes, weakness and altered reflexes helps localize a problem.

Role of TAGMED care

At TAGMED, assessment aims to understand symptoms, history and functional limitations. Manual care and osteopathy, motorized spinal decompression, laser and shockwave have different indications. The term described in this entry is not enough to select any of these modalities. Their relevance, limitations and possible contraindications should be discussed in relation to diagnosis and individual goals.

Related concepts and distinctions

These concepts belong to the same field, but are not synonyms.

• Spinal nerve — Mixed nerve formed by the joining of a sensory dorsal root and a motor ventral root before dividing into rami.
• Ventral root — Bundle of efferent fibers leaving the spinal cord, including somatic motor axons and, at certain levels, preganglionic autonomic fibers.
• Dorsal ramus of the spinal nerve — Posterior mixed branch of a spinal nerve supplying deep back muscles, some joints and part of the skin of the back.

Medical references

1. OpenStax, Rice University. Anatomy and Physiology 2e — The Peripheral Nervous System.
2. Radiological Society of North America. RadLex Radiology Lexicon — terminology resource.

References document the topic; their inclusion does not imply endorsement of TAGMED services by those organizations.