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Nerve Roots Anatomy

The spinal cord, the brain and the nerve roots form the parts of the anatomy that ensure you can function on a daily basis. Sensation is transmitted from your body to your brain, while motor impulses move from your brain to your body. Although your body is filled with extremely complex mechanisms, understanding the physiological basics can greatly help you to recognize problems and seek appropriate treatment.

Spine nerve roots are the gateway to your peripheral nervous system. You have 31 sets of nerve roots, each pair formed by nerve fibers that branch off your spinal cord. Each pair of nerve roots is attached to the spinal cord by two single roots: a ventral root (anterior) and a dorsal root (posterior.)

Nerve roots, a vital part of our anatomy, are located in each region of the spine and, according to their location, can cause different symptoms when compressed, including:

• 8 cervical spine nerve roots—these are located in the neck; compression may cause pain or tingling that radiates through the neck, shoulders, arms, and hands
• 12 thoracic spine nerve roots— these are located in the middle of the back; compression may cause numbness or a pins-and-needles sensation around the rib cage and abdomen
• 5 lumbar spine nerve roots—these are located in the lower back; compression may cause traveling pain that surges through the buttocks and down the entire leg
• 5 sacral nerve roots—these are located at the base of the spine, between the hip bones; compression can causes pelvic pain and bowel dysfunction
• 1 coccygeal nerve root—located in the tailbone; can cause rectal pain

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If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, consult your physician immediately. He or she may prescribe exercise, rest, cortisone injections, anti-inflammatory steroids, or other conservative treatments, depending on the location and severity of the pinched nerve.

Sometimes conservative treatments prove ineffective, and if you think the next step is surgery, then you owe it to yourself to contact Laser Spine Institute (LSI). Our minimally invasive, endoscopic procedures are performed on an outpatient basis and they offer a welcome alternative to the risks of traditional surgery. Contact LSI today for more information about nerve roots and spinal anatomy, and to receive a free review of your MRI or CT scan.

Please note: Laser Spine Institute currently does not perform endoscopic procedures on the thoracic spine.