The dorsal horn processes which type of information?

The dorsal horn processes which type of information?

• A. Motor commands
• B. Sensory input
• C. Autonomic signals
• D. Cognitive processing

Answer: (B)

The dorsal horn is where sensory information first enters and is processed in the spinal cord. Afferent fibers from the body arrive via the dorsal roots and connect with interneurons and, in some cases, with motor neurons here. This setup allows initial processing and modulation of somatosensory signals—like touch, temperature, and pain—before they travel up to the brain or trigger reflexes. In contrast, motor commands originate in the ventral horn and travel out to muscles, autonomic signals are routed through other spinal regions involved in autonomic control, and cognitive processing happens in the brain. So for the question, the dorsal horn handles sensory input.

The dorsal horn is where sensory information first enters and is processed in the spinal cord. Afferent fibers from the body arrive via the dorsal roots and connect with interneurons and, in some cases, with motor neurons here. This setup allows initial processing and modulation of somatosensory signals—like touch, temperature, and pain—before they travel up to the brain or trigger reflexes. In contrast, motor commands originate in the ventral horn and travel out to muscles, autonomic signals are routed through other spinal regions involved in autonomic control, and cognitive processing happens in the brain. So for the question, the dorsal horn handles sensory input.