How many cervical nerves are there in the spinal cord?

Appeared in: AIIMS Patna NO - 2020

Explanation

There are 31 pairs of spinal nerves in total, which are grouped regionally.
The cervical region of the spinal cord gives rise to 8 pairs of spinal nerves, labeled C1 through C8.
This is a key anatomical fact, often tested to distinguish from the number of cervical vertebrae.
The first 7 cervical nerves exit above their corresponding vertebra, while the C8 nerve exits below the C7 vertebra, creating the count of 8.

Option A: The number 5 corresponds to the number of pairs of lumbar spinal nerves and sacral spinal nerves, not cervical nerves.
Option B: The number 9 does not correspond to the number of nerve pairs in any of the major spinal nerve groups.
Option D: The number 12 corresponds to the number of pairs of thoracic spinal nerves. It also corresponds to the number of pairs of cranial nerves, which originate from the brain, not the spinal cord.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Anatomy of the Spinal Cord - Cervical Nerves as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Understanding the number and location of cervical nerves is crucial for diagnosing and managing conditions like cervical radiculopathy (pinched nerve), where a specific nerve root is compressed, causing pain, numbness, or weakness in the arm and hand.
Injury to the cervical spine (e.g., from trauma) can damage these nerves, potentially leading to significant disability, including quadriplegia. The level of injury determines the extent of functional loss.
The phrenic nerve, which is essential for breathing as it controls the diaphragm, originates from cervical nerves C3, C4, and C5. An injury above C3 can result in respiratory arrest.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key terms in the question: "cervical nerves" and "spinal cord".
This is a direct factual recall question from anatomy.
Recall the five groups of spinal nerves: cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral, and coccygeal.
Remember the specific number of pairs for each group. A common mnemonic is to remember the times of meals: 8 (breakfast), 12 (lunch), 5 (dinner), and then 5 and 1 for the remaining.
Specifically recall that there are 8 cervical nerves, even though there are only 7 cervical vertebrae. This is a frequent point of confusion and a common exam question.
Select the option that matches the recalled number.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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

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

Practise the full AIIMS Patna NO - 2020

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