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The medial branch of the posterior primary ramus is responsible for providing sensory innervation to the facet capsules of the vertebral joints. This branch supplies the deep muscles of the back and the skin overlying them, as well as the facet joints. The facet joints, also known as zygapophyseal joints, have nociceptive fibers that are essential for conveying pain sensations related to joint dysfunction or injury, which is crucial for diagnosing various spinal conditions.

In contrast, the lateral branch of the anterior primary ramus primarily innervates the muscles and skin in the lateral and anterior aspects of the trunk and limbs, and it does not supply the facet joints. Dorsal root ganglion fibers consist of sensory neurons that relay information from the periphery to the central nervous system but do not directly innervate the facet capsule. Ventral root fibers are predominantly motor fibers that innervate skeletal muscles and do not play a role in sensory innervation. Thus, the medial branch of the posterior primary ramus is specifically designed to innervate structures in the back, including the facet joints, making it the correct choice in this context.