C6 dorsal root ganglion

Ganglion sensorium nervi spinalis

NervousNervesNeckLeft and right

View left in 3D View right in 3D

What it is
A swelling on the dorsal (sensory) root of the C6 spinal nerve lying in the intervertebral foramen, just outside the dural sac, where the dorsal and ventral roots join. One of 31 pairs; three levels are shown as representatives.
Function
Holds the cell bodies of the sensory neurons that bring touch, pain, temperature and position sense from its dermatome and muscles into the cord.
Size
About 4-6 mm long
Clinical note
The chickenpox virus lies dormant in dorsal root ganglia for decades and can reactivate as shingles, a painful rash confined to one dermatome.

Nearby nervous structures C2 spinal nerve, C3 spinal nerve, C4 spinal nerve, C5 spinal nerve, C6 spinal nerve, C7 spinal nerve, C8 spinal nerve