Question

The dorsal root of spinal cord contains

• A. Somatic motor fibres
• B. Visceral motor fibres
• C. Somatic sensory fibres
• D. Visceral sensory fibres

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

Somatic sensory fibres

A posterior root ganglion (spinal ganglion) (also known as a dorsal root ganglion), is a cluster of nerve cell bodies (a ganglion) in a posterior root of a spinal nerve. The axons of posterior root ganglion neurons are known as afferents. The posterior root ganglia lie along the vertebral column by the spine. The nerve endings of posterior root ganglion neurons have a variety of sensory receptors that are activated by mechanical, thermal, chemical, and noxious stimuli.

Thus, dorsal root ganglia contain cell bodies of sensory neurons. Axons of these sensory neurons travel into the spinal cord via the dorsal roots.

Thus, the correct answer is option C.