root

root

 [roōt]

1. the descending and subterranean part of a plant.

2. that portion of an organ, such as a tooth, hair, or nail, that is buried in the tissues, or by which it arises from another structure, or the part of a nerve that is adjacent to the center to which it is connected.

Tooth anomalies with variations in root form. From Darby and Walsh, 1994.

anterior root the anterior, or motor, division of each spinal nerve, attached centrally to the spinal cord and joining peripherally with the posterior root to form the nerve before it emerges from the intervertebral foramen; it conveys motor fibers to skeletal muscle and contains preganglionic autonomic fibers at the thoracolumbar and sacral levels. Called also ventral root.

dorsal root posterior root.

motor root anterior root.

nerve r's the series of paired bundles of nerve fibers which emerge at each side of the spinal cord, termed dorsal (or posterior) or ventral (or anterior) according to their position. There are 31 pairs (8 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, 5 sacral, and 1 coccygeal), each corresponding dorsal and ventral root joining to form a spinal nerve. Certain cranial nerves, e.g., the trigeminal, also have nerve roots.

posterior root the posterior, or sensory, division of each spinal nerve, attached centrally to the spinal cord and joining peripherally with the anterior root to form the nerve before it emerges from the intervertebral foramen; each posterior root bears a spinal ganglion that conveys sensory fibers to the spinal cord. Called also dorsal root.

sensory root posterior root.

ventral root anterior root.

Miller-Keane Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing, and Allied Health, Seventh Edition. © 2003 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved.

root

(rūt), [TA]

1. The primary or beginning portion of any part, as of a nerve at its origin from the brainstem or spinal cord. Synonym(s): radix (1)

2. Synonym(s): root of tooth

3. The descending underground portion of a plant; it absorbs water and nutrients, provides support, and stores nutrients.

4. Loosely used to denote the etiology of a process, event, or conflict requiring solutions to allow mitigation. For roots of pharmacologic significance that are not listed below, see specific names.

[A.S. rot]

Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012

root

(ro͞ot, ro͝ot)

n.

1. The embedded part of an organ or structure such as a hair, tooth, or nerve, that serves as a base or support.

2. A primary source; an origin; radix.

The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2007, 2004 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

root

Australian slang for:
noun Sexual intercourse.
 
verb To engage in sexual intercourse.

Segen's Medical Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.

root

(rūt) [TA]

1. The primary or beginning portion of any part, as of a nerve at its origin from the brainstem or spinal cord.
Synonym(s): radix (1) [TA] .

2. Synonym(s): root of tooth.

3. The descending underground portion of a plant; it absorbs water and nutrients, provides support, and stores nutrients.

[A.S. rot]

Medical Dictionary for the Health Professions and Nursing © Farlex 2012

Fig. 271 Root. Transverse section of a typical dicotyledon (buttercup) root.

root

that part of a plant which (usually) grows below ground. The root provides anchorage for the aerial parts, absorbs water and mineral salts from the soil, conducts water and nutrients to other parts of the plant, and often stores food materials over winter. Root structure is variable among higher plants, but generally the root, unlike the young STEM, has a central core of conducting tissue (the STELE) which also serves as a strong structural element, assisting the root as it pushes downwards and resisting upward pressures from the aerial parts.

Roots can be classified into three main types: primary, secondary (see LATERAL ROOT), and ADVENTITIOUS (1). The primary root of ANGIOSPERMS develops from the radicle of the seedling. Later, secondary roots emerge from the top of the primary root and then further down. At the apex of the root is a protective ROOT CAP. The typical root structure of a DICOTYLEDON is shown in Fig. 271.

In MONOCOTYLEDONS the number of xylem ‘arms’ is usually much greater than in DICOTYLEDONS, 12 to 20 in monocotyledons, 2 to 5 in dicotyledons. Roots frequently undergo SECONDARY THICKENING in dicotyledons, but not in monocotyledons.

Collins Dictionary of Biology, 3rd ed. © W. G. Hale, V. A. Saunders, J. P. Margham 2005

root

(rūt) [TA]

1. Primary or beginning portion of any part, as of a nerve at its origin from the brainstem or spinal cord.

2. Synonym(s): root of tooth.

3. Loosely used to denote the etiology of a process, event, or conflict requiring solutions to allow mitigation.

[A.S. rot]

Medical Dictionary for the Dental Professions © Farlex 2012

Patient discussion about root

Q. How much does a root canal hurt? I have to get a root canal for my bottom tooth. I was wondering how much they hurt. And do you have any suggestions that help distract from the pain? Thanks.

A. i did one about two years ago- even the injection wasn't too bad! didn't feel a thing. but after the anesthesia worn off it hurt. but then the dentist told me to take Advil or any other NSAID and it helped.

This content is provided by iMedix and is subject to iMedix Terms. The Questions and Answers are not endorsed or recommended and are made available by patients, not doctors.