All the following are correct pairs of spinal nerves except:

Appeared in: IGNOU PB Bsc Nsg.Entrance-2026

Explanation

The statement '1 pair of sacral nerves' is factually incorrect, making it the correct answer for this 'except' question.
The human spinal cord gives rise to 5 pairs of sacral nerves, designated S1 through S5.
These nerves are responsible for innervating the posterior thigh, most of the lower leg, the entire foot, and parts of the pelvis.

Option A: This is a correct statement. There are indeed 8 pairs of cervical spinal nerves (C1-C8).
Option B: This is a correct statement. There are 12 pairs of thoracic spinal nerves (T1-T12), corresponding to the 12 thoracic vertebrae.
Option C: This is a correct statement. There are 5 pairs of lumbar spinal nerves (L1-L5), corresponding to the 5 lumbar vertebrae.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Anatomy of the peripheral nervous system, specifically the number and distribution of spinal nerves as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Accurate knowledge of spinal nerve distribution is fundamental for assessing the level and extent of a spinal cord injury. The location of sensory or motor deficits helps pinpoint the affected spinal segment.
This knowledge is crucial for understanding dermatomes (areas of skin supplied by a single spinal nerve) and myotomes (groups of muscles supplied by a single spinal nerve), which are used for neurological examinations.
What if the patient had loss of sensation in their little finger? This would point towards a potential issue with the C8 spinal nerve, demonstrating the clinical application of this anatomical knowledge.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the keyword 'except' in the question stem. This tells you that three of the options are correct statements, and you must find the one that is false.
Systematically review each option by recalling the standard anatomical count of spinal nerve pairs for each region of the spine.
Recall the mnemonic for the number of vertebrae: 'Breakfast at 7 (cervical), lunch at 12 (thoracic), dinner at 5 (lumbar)'. Remember that for nerves, the cervical count is 8, not 7.
Compare the number in each option to your recalled knowledge: 8 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, 5 sacral, and 1 coccygeal.
The option that does not match this standard count is the correct answer.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Anatomy of the peripheral nervous system, specifically the number and distribution of spinal nerves.
Stem keywords: spinal nerves, cervical nerves, thoracic nerves, lumbar nerves, sacral nerves
Lead-in keywords: except
Negative lead-in flag: The question asks for the INCORRECT statement (the 'exception').

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E6 Anatomy Grays 43e Vol 1 Part 3 pp. 33-35, 64-66

E6 Anatomy Grays 43e Vol 2 Part 2 p. 47-49

Practise the full IGNOU PB Bsc Nsg.Entrance-2026

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.