The spinal nerve roots

What it does

At each level of the spine, a front root carrying commands to muscles and a back root bringing in sensation leave the spinal cord and join to form a spinal nerve. A swelling on each back root, the spinal ganglion, contains the cell bodies of the sensory nerves.

Why it matters

A slipped disc or narrowed spine can press on these roots, causing a "pinched nerve" with pain, tingling or weakness down an arm or leg.

Nearby

• The spinal cord
• The spinal discs
• The sciatic nerve
• The brachial plexus

Read more

• Spinal nerve roots and ganglia — Wikipedia