What nerve root may be impinged by a right paracentral disc herniation at L5 S1?
The nerve roots exit the neural foramina just below the pedicles of the upper vertebral body (i.e., the L5 nerve roots exit just below the L5 pedicles, which are superior to the level of the intervertebral disc space). A right paracentral disc herniation at L5-S1 would therefore not impinge upon the L5 nerve roots because they have already exited, unless large in size or extending cranially into the right neural foramen. Instead, the right S1 nerve root, which descends slightly lateral to the cauda equina in the lateral recess on its way toward the right S1 neural foramen, can be impinged by a right paracentral disc herniation at L5-S1
