Spinal nerve

Spinal nerve is a mixed nerve, which carries motor, sensory, and autonomic signals between the spinal cord and the body. In the human body, there are 31 pairs of spinal nerves, one on each side of the vertebral column. These are grouped into the corresponding cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral and coccygeal regions of the spine. There are eight pairs of cervical nerves, twelve pairs of thoracic nerves, five pairs of lumbar nerves, five pairs of sacral nerves, and one pair of coccygeal nerves. The spinal nerves are part of the peripheral nervous system (PNS).

Structure

Each spinal nerve is a mixed nerve that is formed from the combination of nerve fibers from its posterior and anterior roots. The posterior root is the sensory root that carries sensory information to the brain from other parts of the body. The anterior root is the motor root that transmits neural signals from the brain to the various parts of the body.

Function

The spinal nerves provide the connection between the central nervous system and the nerves supplying the peripheral tissues. Each spinal nerve carries both sensory and motor information.

Clinical significance

Damage to the spinal nerves can cause neurological disorders, such as radiculopathy, which is characterized by pain that radiates along the nerve from the spine. Other conditions, such as spinal cord injury, can also affect the spinal nerves.

See also

• Nervous system
• Nerve injury
• Spinal cord

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