An anterior root is a bundle of nerve fibers that emerge from the front of the spinal cord and carry motor signals to the muscles. Some common synonyms for anterior root include ventral root, efferent root, and motor root. The ventral root is so named because it emerges from the front or anterior portion of the spinal cord, and ventral is a Latin word meaning belly or front. Efferent root refers to the fact that these nerve fibers carry impulses away from the central nervous system, as opposed to afferent or sensory fibers which transmit signals toward the central nervous system. Finally, motor root refers to the function of these nerve fibers in controlling voluntary movement.