dorsal root

American  

[dawr-suhl root] / ˈdɔr səl ˌrut /

noun

dorsal roots plural

1. Physiology. one of the two roots that come from the spinal cord and merge to form each spinal nerve; the component of a spinal nerve that transmits sensation. Compare ventral root.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• dorsal roots
  plural

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

dorsal root

The team also tested a more direct method by injecting isolated mitochondria from both humans and mice into the dorsal root ganglia, clusters of nerve cells that send sensory information to the brain.

From Science Daily ● May 24, 2026

These overstimulated immune cells then move toward the dorsal root ganglia -- the sensory nerve hubs that link the limbs to the spinal cord -- and release inflammatory compounds that irritate and damage nerves.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 21, 2025

Using mouse antibodies that glom on to proteasomes, and other methods, the investigators found the proteasomes on the surface of neurons in the spinal cord, dorsal root ganglia, sciatic nerve and peripheral nerves innervating skin.

From Science Daily ● Apr. 12, 2024

The cells of the dorsal root ganglion are unipolar cells, classifying them by shape.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 19, 2013

What would be the effect of cutting or breaking the dorsal root of a spinal nerve? the ventral root? the entire spinal cord?

From A Guide for the Study of Animals by Lucas, Frederic