Spinal Nerve Roots
Paired bundles of nerve fibers entering and leaving the spinal cord.
Part of: Spinal Cord
See also: How the Spine Works
About the Spinal Cord and Nerves
The vertebral arches have a slight recess at the top and bottom of each edge. Each individual vertebral arch has two small indentations along the top and bottom edges.
Where two vertebrae come together these indentations form two gaps — one on the left and one on the right side of the spine — through which spinal nerves can leave the spinal canal. Because the spinal nerves branch off as they go down the spine, the spinal cord thins out at the lower end of the spine.
The spinal nerves carry electrical signals from the brain to the skeletal muscles and internal organs through the spinal cord. They also carry sensory information like touch, pressure, cold, warmth, pain and other sensations from the skin, muscles, joints and internal organs to the brain via the spinal cord.
Together, the spinal cord and the brain make up the central nervous system… Read more about the Spinal Nerve Roots