Definition of Nerve, spinal

Nerve, spinal: One of the nerves that originates in the spinal cord.

There are 31 pairs of spinal nerves. They consist of the 8 cervical nerves, 12 thoracic nerves, 5 lumbar nerves, 5 sacral nerves, and 1 coccygeal nerve.

Source: MedTerms™ Medical Dictionary
http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=18054
Last Editorial Review: 6/14/2012