Intro | Central Canal | Dorsal Horn | Dorsal Root | Dorsal Root Ganglion | Grey Matter | Motor Nerve | Sensory Nerve | Spinal Cord | Spinal Nerve | Ventral Root | White Matter
Part 1: Image-Mapped Tutorial
Part 2: Matching Self-Test
Part 3: Multiple-Choice Self-Test
A Spinal Nerve is formed at the junction of the dorsal and ventral roots found at each level of the spinal cord. Each spinal nerve branches repeatedly as it distributes or collects information to or from its target organ. Spinal nerves often follow blood vessels on route to the site of innervation. Spinal nerves are also known as peripheral nerves, and along with the cranial nerves form the peripheral nervous system.
| Advanced |
In general, damage to the spinal roots or nerves of the spinal cord will result in deficits that reflect the reception areas of the sensory nerves and the distribution areas of the motor nerves conveyed via the spinal root or nerve (Parent, 1996). In the cervical vertebral region, damage to the spinal roots or nerves may adversely affect breathing, head and neck movements, the control of heart rate, and movement of the shoulder, wrist, elbow, hand and fingers. Damage to spinal roots or nerves at the thoracic levels of the spinal cord may affect activity of the sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system (such as temperature regulation and function of internal organs), and stability of the trunk. Damage to spinal roots or nerves at the lumbar levels of the spinal cord may affect ejaculation, hip motion, extension of the knee, and movement of the foot. Finally, damage to spinal roots or nerves at the sacral levels of the spinal cord may affect penile erection and female sexual function, bowel and bladder activity.
| Reference |
Parent, A. (1996). Carpenter's human neuroanatomy (9th ed.). London: Williams & Wilkins.