spinal nerve

Introduction

Nerves emerging from the spinal cord.

Function

• pairs of spinal nerves form dorsal (sensory) & ventral (motor) roots

Structure

• a spinal nerve has layers of connective tissue on the outside (epineuriun), around each fascicle (perineurium) & around individual nerve fibers (endoneurium)

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Origin

• dorsal roots have cell bodies in dorsal root ganglion

Course

• the roots join in the intervertebral foramen
• after joining, the spinal nerve divides into dorsal & ventral rami

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More general terms

• peripheral nerve

More specific terms

• cervical spinal nerve
• lumbar spinal nerve
• sacral spinal nerve
• thoracic spinal nerve

Additional terms

• dermatome
• myotome

Components

• ventral root of spinal nerve
• dorsal root of spinal nerve