Meaning & use
root ganglion
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountabletechnicalmedicalbiology
A small cluster of nerve cell bodies located on a spinal nerve root, just outside the spinal cord.
Grammar: Countable: you can say 'a root ganglion' or 'the root ganglia' (plural). It often appears with 'dorsal' or 'spinal' before it.
Patterns
- the dorsal root ganglion
- a spinal root ganglion
- root ganglia (plural)
The dorsal root ganglion contains the cell bodies of sensory neurons.
Damage to a root ganglion can cause severe pain along the affected nerve.
Researchers studied how viruses travel to the root ganglia from the site of infection.
Word forms
| plural | root ganglia |
|---|---|
| plural | root ganglions |
Common combinations
- dorsal root ganglion
- The dorsal root ganglion is a key structure in the sensory pathway.
- spinal root ganglion
- A spinal root ganglion lies near the point where the nerve root leaves the spinal cord.
- root ganglion cell
- Root ganglion cells were cultured in the laboratory.
- root ganglion injury
- Root ganglion injury may lead to chronic neuropathic pain.
Synonyms and how they differ
- spinal ganglion
- A broader term for any ganglion associated with the spinal nerves; 'root ganglion' is more specific to the root itself.
- sensory ganglion
- Focuses on function (sensory neurons), while 'root ganglion' focuses on location.
Word family
- ganglion noun
- A general term for a cluster of nerve cell bodies.
- ganglionic adjective
- Relating to a ganglion.
Commonly confused: root ganglion or ganglion cyst?
root ganglion vs ganglion cyst
A fluid-filled lump near a joint or tendon, not a nerve structure. 'Root ganglion' is a nerve tissue, while a ganglion cyst is a swelling.
Practice
Where is a root ganglion typically found?
Choose one answer.
A root ganglion is located on a spinal nerve root, just outside the spinal cord. It is not found in the brain, liver, or heart.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “root ganglion”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.