A protrusion of the intervertebral disc between C5 and C6 would most directly affect which spinal nerve?

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Multiple Choice

A protrusion of the intervertebral disc between C5 and C6 would most directly affect which spinal nerve?

Explanation:
A disc bulge at the C5–C6 level narrows the intervertebral foramen through which the C6 nerve root travels. In the cervical region, the nerve root passing through the foramen between two adjacent vertebrae corresponds to the lower vertebra of that pair. Therefore, the C6 nerve root is the one directly affected by a protrusion between C5 and C6. This would produce radicular symptoms consistent with C6 nerve distribution, rather than the C5 or C7 roots which would be affected by protrusions at the adjacent levels.

A disc bulge at the C5–C6 level narrows the intervertebral foramen through which the C6 nerve root travels. In the cervical region, the nerve root passing through the foramen between two adjacent vertebrae corresponds to the lower vertebra of that pair. Therefore, the C6 nerve root is the one directly affected by a protrusion between C5 and C6. This would produce radicular symptoms consistent with C6 nerve distribution, rather than the C5 or C7 roots which would be affected by protrusions at the adjacent levels.

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