The axons forming the ventral roots originate from cells in which spinal cord region?

The axons forming the ventral roots originate from cells in which spinal cord region?

• A. Dorsal horn
• B. Lateral horn
• C. Ventral horn
• D. Central canal

Answer: (C)

Motor neurons that send signals to skeletal muscles sit in the ventral horn of the spinal cord's gray matter. Their axons travel out through the ventral roots, so the axons forming the ventral roots originate in the ventral horn. The dorsal horn handles processing of incoming sensory information, while its cell bodies aren’t there (sensory neurons reside in the dorsal root ganglia). The lateral horn contains autonomic preganglionic neurons, and the central canal is simply the CSF-filled lumen in the center of the cord.

Motor neurons that send signals to skeletal muscles sit in the ventral horn of the spinal cord's gray matter. Their axons travel out through the ventral roots, so the axons forming the ventral roots originate in the ventral horn. The dorsal horn handles processing of incoming sensory information, while its cell bodies aren’t there (sensory neurons reside in the dorsal root ganglia). The lateral horn contains autonomic preganglionic neurons, and the central canal is simply the CSF-filled lumen in the center of the cord.