How many spinal nerves are there?

There are 31 pairs of spinal nerves in humans, says Encyclopedia Brittanica. Eight pairs of these spinal nerves arise from the cervical area of the spine. Twelve pairs can be found in the thoracic area. The lumbar and sacral areas each have five pairs. The coccygeal area has one pair.

Each pair of spinal nerves connects a specific section of the body to the spine, explains Encyclopedia Brittanica. Each pair is split into two roots: the posterior, which carries sensory information from the corresponding body areas to the brain, and the anterior, which carries motor information from the brain to the corresponding body areas.