Posterior root of spinal nerve
Radix posterior nervi spinalis
- Latin synonym: Radix sensoria nervi spinalis; Radix dorsalis nervi spinalis
- Synonym: Sensory root of spinal nerve; Dorsal root of spinal nerve
- Related terms: Posterior root; Posterior root; Sensory root; Dorsal root
Definition
The Posterior Root (radix posterior; dorsal root) is larger than the anterior owing to the greater size and number of its rootlets; these are attached along the posterolateral furrow of the medulla spinalis and unite to form two bundles which join the spinal ganglion. The posterior root of the first cervical nerve is exceptional in that it is smaller than the anterior; it is occasionally wanting.
References
This definition incorporates text from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy (20th U.S. edition of Gray's Anatomy of the Human Body, published in 1918 – from http://www.bartleby.com/107/).
