Ventral horn

Ventral Horn

The Ventral Horn or anterior horn is a component of the spinal cord that plays a crucial role in the nervous system. It is one of the two roots of the spinal cord, the other being the dorsal horn. The ventral horn contains the cell bodies of motor neurons that send axonal projections to the skeletal muscles.

Anatomy

The ventral horn is located at the front of the spinal cord, opposite the dorsal horn. It is composed of grey matter, which is densely packed with nerve cell bodies. The ventral horn is larger in the cervical and lumbar regions, where it must accommodate the neurons that innervate the arms and legs, respectively.

Function

The primary function of the ventral horn is to house the cell bodies of motor neurons. These neurons send signals from the brain to the muscles, causing them to contract and produce movement. The ventral horn is thus integral to the motor system.

Clinical Significance

Damage to the ventral horn can result in a variety of motor disorders. For example, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease that primarily affects the motor neurons in the ventral horn. This leads to muscle weakness and atrophy, and eventually paralysis.

See Also

• Dorsal horn
• Spinal cord
• Motor neuron
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis