There are 31 pairs of spinal nerves originating from the spinal cord. They emerge from opposite sides of the cord, and pass through holes in the vertebrae known as invertebral foramina.

Spinal nerves are named after the vertebrae from which they emerge. There are:

• 8 pairs of cervical nerves
• 12 pairs of thoracic nerves
• 5 pairs of lumber nerves
• 5 pairs of sacral nerves
• 1 pair of coccygeal nerves

Click PLAY to see them in turn. All the spinal nerves are mixed nerves - that is, they contain a mix of motor and sensory nerve fibres.