There are 31 pairs of spinal nerves, totaling 62 individual nerves, that emerge from the spinal cord.
These spinal nerves are mixed nerves, meaning they contain both sensory and motor fibers. They serve as the communication pathways between the spinal cord and the body, relaying sensory information to the central nervous system and motor commands from the central nervous system to muscles and glands. These nerves are grouped regionally based on the spinal region from which they emerge:
- Cervical: 8 pairs (C1-C8)
- Thoracic: 12 pairs (T1-T12)
- Lumbar: 5 pairs (L1-L5)
- Sacral: 5 pairs (S1-S5)
- Coccygeal: 1 pair (Co1)
Each spinal nerve exits the vertebral column through an intervertebral foramen (an opening between adjacent vertebrae) or, in the case of the first cervical nerve, between the occipital bone and the atlas (C1 vertebra). Shortly after exiting, the spinal nerve divides into branches.
Therefore, while people often refer to the spinal cord's role in nerve function, it's the 31 pairs of spinal nerves that directly connect the spinal cord to the periphery.
