Which structure is associated with sensory signal transmission from the periphery to the central nervous system and contains sensory neuron cell bodies?

Which structure is associated with sensory signal transmission from the periphery to the central nervous system and contains sensory neuron cell bodies?

• A. Nucleus pulposus
• B. Sympathetic ganglion
• C. Motor nerve terminal
• D. Dorsal root ganglion

Answer: (D)

Signals from the periphery are carried by primary sensory neurons whose cell bodies reside in the dorsal root ganglion. This ganglion sits just outside the spinal cord along the dorsal root, and each sensory neuron has a peripheral process that detects stimuli and a central process that enters the spinal cord to relay information to the CNS. That organization makes the dorsal root ganglion the structure that both transmits sensory signals and houses the cell bodies of the sensory neurons. In contrast, the nucleus pulposus is the inner gel of an intervertebral disc, the sympathetic ganglion contains autonomic neurons, and a motor nerve terminal is where motor signals are transmitted to muscles—neither houses sensory neuron cell bodies or handles primary sensory transmission.

Signals from the periphery are carried by primary sensory neurons whose cell bodies reside in the dorsal root ganglion. This ganglion sits just outside the spinal cord along the dorsal root, and each sensory neuron has a peripheral process that detects stimuli and a central process that enters the spinal cord to relay information to the CNS. That organization makes the dorsal root ganglion the structure that both transmits sensory signals and houses the cell bodies of the sensory neurons. In contrast, the nucleus pulposus is the inner gel of an intervertebral disc, the sympathetic ganglion contains autonomic neurons, and a motor nerve terminal is where motor signals are transmitted to muscles—neither houses sensory neuron cell bodies or handles primary sensory transmission.