List of nerves of the human body

A complex network of nerves in the human body transmits signals between the brain and the rest of the body.

Divisions

The nervous system consists of three major divisions: the central nervous system, which consists of the brain and spinal cord; the peripheral nervous system, which consists of all nerves outside the brain and spinal cord; and the autonomic nervous system, which regulates the body's automatic functions, such as heart rate and digestion.

Spinal cord

The spinal cord, also known as the medulla spinalis, is a long, cylindrical structure that extends through the vertebral column and acts as the primary conduit for brain-to-spinal cord impulses. The brain, or encephalon, is the control center of the body, processing and interpreting sensory data and initiating voluntary activities. The rhombencephalon, which consists of the medulla oblongata, pons, and cerebellum, controls vital activities such as breathing and heart rate. The midbrain, also known as the mesencephalon, regulates movement and coordination. The forebrain, also known as the prosencephalon, consists of the cerebrum, thalamus, and hypothalamus, and is responsible for higher processes such as thought, emotion, and memory.

Sensory and motor systems

Sensory and motor fibers make up the spinal nerves, which are found within the spinal cord. The sensory fibers provide to the brain information about the body's environment, including temperature, pain, and touch. Motor fibers convey messages from the brain to the muscles and glands, allowing for voluntary movement and other actions. The paths from the brain to the spinal cord are known as tracts and are composed of nerve fiber bundles that transfer impulses in particular directions.

The brain

The brain and spinal cord are covered by a tissue layer known as the meninges and a clear fluid known as cerebrospinal fluid. The olfactory nerves, the optic nerve, the oculomotor nerve, the trochlear nerve, the trigeminal nerve, the abducens nerve, the facial nerve, the vestibulocochlear nerve, the glossopharyngeal nerve, the vagus nerve, the accessory nerve, and the hypoglossal nerve are cranial nerves located in the brain.

Spinal nerves

The spinal nerves are subdivided further into posterior divisions, anterior divisions, thoracic nerves, and lumbosacral plexus. The sacral and coccygeal nerves are located in the lower back and pelvic region and govern the muscles of the lower limbs. The sympathetic nerves, which are part of the autonomic nervous system, regulate the automatic functions of the body. In addition to multiple big plexuses, they are separated into the cephalic portion, cervical section, thoracic portion, abdominal portion, and pelvic portion.

List of nerves

Upper Extremity Sensory and Mixed Nerves:

• Lateral antebrachial cutaneous sensory nerve
• Medial antebrachial cutaneous sensory nerve
• Medial brachial cutaneous sensory nerve
• Median nerve
  • Median sensory nerve to the 1st digit
  • Median sensory nerve to the 2nd digit
  • Median sensory nerve to the 3rd digit
  • Median sensory nerve to the 4th digit
  • Median palmar cutaneous sensory nerve
• Median palmar mixed nerve
  • Posterior antebrachial cutaneous sensory nerve
• Radial sensory nerve
  • Radial sensory nerve to the base of the thumb
  • Radial sensory nerve to digit 1
• Ulnar nerve
  • Ulnar dorsal cutaneous sensory nerve
  • Ulnar sensory nerve to the 4th digit
  • Ulnar sensory nerve to the 5th digit
• Ulnar palmar mixed nerve
• Intercostal sensory nerve

Lower Extremity Sensory and Mixed Nerves

• Lateral femoral cutaneous sensory nerve
• Medial calcaneal sensory nerve
• Medial femoral cutaneous sensory nerve
• Peroneal nerve
  • Deep peroneal sensory nerve
  • Superficial peroneal sensory nerve, medial dorsal cutaneous branch
  • Superficial peroneal sensory nerve, lateral dorsal cutaneous branch
  • Superficial peroneal mixed nerve
• Tibial nerve
  • Medial plantar sensory nerve
  • Lateral plantar sensory nerve
• Lateral plantar mixed nerve
• Sural sensory nerve
• Saphenous sensory nerve

Cranial Nerves and Trunk

• Cranial nerve VII (facial motor nerve)
• Facial nerve to the frontalis
• Facial nerve to the nasalis
• Facial nerve to the orbicularis oculi
• Facial nerve to the orbicularis oris
• Cranial nerve XI (spinal accessory motor nerve)
• Cranial nerve XII (hypoglossal motor nerve)

Intercostal motor nerve Phrenic motor

Upper Extremity Sensory and Mixed Nerves

1. Lateral antebrachial cutaneous sensory nerve
2. Medial antebrachial cutaneous sensory nerve
3. Medial brachial cutaneous sensory nerve

Median nerve

• • Median sensory nerve to the 1st digit
  • Median sensory nerve to the 2nd digit
  • Median sensory nerve to the 3rd digit
  • Median sensory nerve to the 4th digit
  • Median palmar cutaneous sensory nerve
  • Median palmar mixed nerve

Posterior antebrachial cutaneous sensory nerve

Radial sensory nerve

• Radial sensory nerve to the base of the thumb
• Radial sensory nerve to digit 1

Ulnar nerve

• • Ulnar dorsal cutaneous sensory nerve
  • Ulnar sensory nerve to the 4th digit
  • Ulnar sensory nerve to the 5th digit
  • Ulnar palmar mixed nerve
• Intercostal sensory nerve

Lower Extremity Sensory and Mixed Nerves

• Lateral femoral cutaneous sensory nerve
• Medial calcaneal sensory nerve
• Medial femoral cutaneous sensory nerve

Peroneal nerve

• Deep peroneal sensory nerve
  • Superficial peroneal sensory nerve, medial dorsal cutaneous branch
  • Superficial peroneal sensory nerve, lateral dorsal cutaneous branch
• Sural sensory nerve

Tibial nerve

• Tibial sensory nerve to the heel
• Tibial sensory nerve to the sole
• Tibial sensory nerve, medial plantar branch
• Tibial sensory nerve, lateral plantar branch

Cranial Nerves

1. Cranial nerve V (trigeminal sensory nerve)
2. Cranial nerve IX (glossopharyngeal sensory nerve)
3. Cranial nerve X (vagus sensory nerve)

Trunk

1. Intercostal sensory nerve
2. Phrenic sensory nerve
3. Recurrent laryngeal sensory nerve

Nerve Roots

1. Cervical nerve roots
2. Cervical level 5 (C5)
3. Cervical level 6 (C6)
4. Cervical level 7 (C7)
5. Cervical level 8 (C8)

Thoracic nerve roots

1. Thoracic level 1 (T1)
2. Thoracic level 2 (T2)
3. Thoracic level 3 (T3)
4. Thoracic level 4 (T4)
5. Thoracic level 5 (T5)
6. Thoracic level 6 (T6)
7. Thoracic level 7 (T7)
8. Thoracic level 8 (T8)
9. Thoracic level 9 (T9)
10. Thoracic level 10 (T10)
11. Thoracic level 11 (T11)
12. Thoracic level 12 (T12)

Lumbar nerve roots

1. Lumbar level 1 (L1)
2. Lumbar level 2 (L2)
3. Lumbar level 3 (L3)
4. Lumbar level 4 (L4)
5. Lumbar level 5 (L5)

Sacral nerve roots

1. Sacral level 1 (S1)
2. Sacral level 2 (S2)
3. Sacral level 3 (S3)
4. Sacral level 4 (S4)

Related topic

• Human brain
• Spinal cord
• Outline of the human nervous system
• List of skeletal muscles of the human body
• List of bones of the human skeleton
• Circulatory system
• Blood vessel

List of nerves of the human body Resources
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