The lateral division of the dorsal root contains lightly myelinated and unmyelinated fibres of small diameter.

These fibers cross through the anterior white commissure to form the anterolateral system in the lateral funiculus.

The medial division of the dorsal root contains myelinated fibres of larger diameter[citation needed].

These transmit information of discriminative touch, pressure, vibration, and conscious proprioception originating from spinal levels C2 through S5.

If the dorsal root of a spinal nerve were severed, it would lead to numbness in certain areas of the body.