The spinal nerves

 Organ system: Peripheral nervous system

Features

• The spinal nerves originate from segments of the spinal cord.
• There is a pair of spinal nerve roots at each level in the vertebral column.

 

Cervical nerves

There are 7 cervical vertebrae in the spine.
Each spinal nerve pair arises above a cervical vertebra except C8, which arises below cervical vertebra C7.

• C1
• C2
• C3
• C4
• C5
• C6
• C7
• C8

 

Thoracic nerves

There are 12 thoracic vertebrae in the spine. 
Each spinal nerve pair arises below a thoracic vertebra.

• T1
• T2
• T3
• T4
• T5
• T6
• T7
• T8
• T9
• T10
• T11
• T12

 

Lumbar nerves

There are 5 lumbar vertebrae in the spine.
Each spinal nerve pair arises below a lumbar vertebra.

• L1
• L2
• L3
• L4
• L5

 

Sacral nerves

Along the sacrum the spinal nerve pairs arise through sacral foramina.

• S1
• S2
• S3
• S4
• S5

 

Coccygeal nerves

The final pair of spinal nerves are the coccygeal nerves.

• Co1

Compare with

• Cranial nerves