Where is the cell body of the first-order neuron located?

Where is the cell body of the first-order neuron located?

• A. Dorsal Root Ganglion for the body
• B. Cranial Sensory Ganglion for the face
• C. Both dorsal root ganglion for the body and cranial sensory ganglion for the face
• D. In the spinal cord

Answer: (C)

First-order sensory neurons have their cell bodies in peripheral sensory ganglia rather than inside the spinal cord or brain. For sensations from the body, the soma sits in the dorsal root ganglion of the spinal nerves. For sensations from the face, the soma sits in a cranial sensory ganglion associated with the trigeminal system. Because both pathways exist, the cell body for the first-order neuron is located either in the dorsal root ganglion for the body or in the cranial sensory ganglion for the face. The spinal cord itself contains the second-order neurons, not the first-order cell bodies, which is why locating the cell body in the spinal cord wouldn’t be correct.

First-order sensory neurons have their cell bodies in peripheral sensory ganglia rather than inside the spinal cord or brain. For sensations from the body, the soma sits in the dorsal root ganglion of the spinal nerves. For sensations from the face, the soma sits in a cranial sensory ganglion associated with the trigeminal system. Because both pathways exist, the cell body for the first-order neuron is located either in the dorsal root ganglion for the body or in the cranial sensory ganglion for the face. The spinal cord itself contains the second-order neurons, not the first-order cell bodies, which is why locating the cell body in the spinal cord wouldn’t be correct.