Spinal Nerve Diagram

Each spinal nerve corresponds to a specific region of the body. Cervical spinal nerves (C1-C8) control the neck, shoulders, arms, and hands. Thoracic nerves (T1-T12) affect the chest and upper abdominal muscles. Lumbar nerves (L1-L5) influence the lower back, hips, and legs, while sacral nerves (S1-S5) impact the pelvic region, thighs, and feet. The coccygeal nerve primarily affects the area around the tailbone.

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Spinal nerves branch off from the spinal cord in pairs through openings called intervertebral foramina. Each nerve has two roots: a dorsal (sensory) root that transmits sensory information to the brain and a ventral (motor) root that sends motor commands from the brain to the muscles. Once outside the spinal cord, these roots merge to form the spinal nerves, which then branch out further to innervate specific body regions.

The T12 and L1 spinal nerves control muscles in the lower back, abdomen, and hips. The T12 nerve primarily affects the abdominal muscles, while the L1 nerve helps control movement and sensation in the lower back, hips, and groin area. Injury or compression in these nerves can result in lower back pain, abdominal weakness, or issues like sciatica affecting the upper legs.