Dorsal nerve roots carry sensory neural signals to the central nervous system (CNS) from the peripheral nervous system (PNS).

The dorsal root ganglion (DRG) has a significant clinical application, particularly in its association with neuropathic pain. DRG neurons emerge from the dorsal root of the spinal nerves, carrying sensory messages from various receptors, including those for pain and temperature towards the central nervous system for a response.

Until recently, the dorsal root ganglion has been considered a passive organ that metabolically assists functions and pathways between the PNS and CNS. New studies suggest, however, that the DRG is an active participant in peripheral processes, including PAF injury, inflammation, and neuropathic pain development. A proper understanding of the significance and functioning of the DRG can help improve the diagnosis and treatment of neuropathic pain syndromes.

The 31 right and left spinal nerve pairs in humans form from afferent sensory dorsal axons (the dorsal root) and motor ventral efferent axons (the ventral root). As the dorsal root emerges from the intervertebral neural foramina, it forms the dorsal root ganglion (DRG). The DRG is a group of cell bodies responsible for the transmission of sensory messages from receptors such as thermoreceptors, nociceptors, proprioceptors, and chemoreceptors, to the CNS for a response.[1] Its cell bodies are separated by layers of satellite glial cells (SGCs) that inhibit the interaction between somas.

DRG neurons are considered pseudo-unipolar neurons, with one axon that bifurcates into two separate branches resulting in a distal process and proximal process. Action potentials generated by impulses from the periphery do not always need to go through the DRG; they may also bypass the DRG and continue through to the proximal process and spinal cord.[2] This unique feature of the DRG is made possible by its embryological onset as a bipolar neuron before differentiating into its adult pseudo-unipolar nature. 

The DRG contains most of the body's sensory neurons. These neurons relay sensory neural messages from the periphery to the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). Until recently, the belief was that the DRG cell bodies merely acted as storage "helpers" in peripheral processes such as nociception. Recent studies, however, have shown that these somas are not passive but rather active participants in the signaling process; they sense specific molecules and produce molecules needed to regulate the process.

 The dorsal nerve root[3]:

• Controls pain (nociception) and temperature sensations
• It lowers the voltage threshold needed and consequently allows it to fire action potentials; this occurs when a mechanical stimulus compresses the DRG.
• Can be affected by traumatic injury, degenerative disc disease, a herniated disc, bulging disc and/or other spinal abnormalities

Along with the rest of the nervous system, the embryological onset of dorsal root ganglia occurs when the neural tube has formed, and neural crest cells arise at the margins of the neural tube. Neural crest cells can also differentiate into the components of the peripheral nervous system, among which are the dorsal root ganglia. These neural crest cells migrate to various locations and differentiate into different cell types within the embryo. DRG cells develop at about four weeks post-conception from the neural crest migration and migrate ventrally immediately after. During the seventh to eighth weeks, early bipolar neurons begin to appear. At about 11 weeks, unipolar neurons with a single broad process and well-developed organelles begin to form. The onset of reflex responsiveness from the skin of the upper limb correlates with the appearance of (pseudo) unipolar neurons. Because dorsal root ganglion develops from the neural crest cells and not the neural tube, it can be regarded as the spinal cord’s gray matter that migrated to the periphery of the spinal cord. Studies suggest that for neural crest cells to survive and potentially differentiate into the DRG, they require a signal from the CNS, as early as the first hours after initiating the migration.[4]

The spinal branch of the dorsal trunk of the segmental arteries provides blood to the DRG. Blood flow to the DRG is regulated by muscular sphincters along the arterioles to meet the varying functional and metabolic demands of the current condition. The DRG is an exception to the otherwise restricted permeability of the peripheral nervous system. While most of the PNS has a low permeability between blood and nervous tissue, much like the blood-brain barrier, the DRG exhibits high permeability using its loose blood-nerve interface. Its high permeability could be of significant clinical relevance because this property of the DRG system makes it vulnerable to low and high molecular weight neurotoxic substances, and toxic metabolites from drug-induced neuropathies.

DRG neurons are considered pseudo-unipolar neurons, with a single axon that bifurcates into two separate branches resulting in a distal process and proximal process.

Dorsal root neurons, when conjoined with ventral root neurons, make up the spinal nerves.[3]