Ramus of spinal nerve

From WikiMD's Food, Medicine & Wellness Encyclopedia

Ramus of Spinal Nerve

Diagram of the distribution of the cutaneous branches of the posterior divisions of the spinal nerves. The larger figures correspond to the spinal nerves and the smaller ones to the cutaneous areas of the peripheral branches.

The Ramus of Spinal Nerve is a branch of a spinal nerve that carries both motor and sensory information. It is a part of the peripheral nervous system and plays a crucial role in transmitting signals between the central nervous system and the rest of the body.

Structure[edit | edit source]

Each spinal nerve splits into two branches, known as rami, shortly after it exits the vertebral column. The two types of rami are the dorsal (posterior) ramus and the ventral (anterior) ramus.

Plan of the spinal cord with the spinal nerves labeled. The dorsal and ventral rami are visible.

Dorsal Ramus[edit | edit source]

The dorsal ramus carries information that supplies muscles and skin on the posterior surface of the body.

Ventral Ramus[edit | edit source]

The ventral ramus is larger and supplies muscles and skin on the lateral and anterior surfaces of the body.

Function[edit | edit source]

The rami of the spinal nerves are responsible for carrying motor, sensory, and autonomic signals between the spinal cord and the body. This includes signals for both voluntary and involuntary actions.

Clinical Significance[edit | edit source]

Damage or injury to the rami can result in a variety of neurological disorders, including radiculopathy, a condition characterized by pain, numbness, or weakness in the areas of the body served by the affected nerves.

See Also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]



Wiki.png

Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index‏‎ - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes

Search WikiMD


Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) available.
Advertise on WikiMD

WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.

Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.

Contributors: Admin, Prab R. Tumpati, MD