Question

Which of the following is correct for the pairs of cervical nerves and number of cervical vertebrae respectively?

• A. 8 and 7
• B. 16 and 7
• C. 7 and 7
• D. 7 and 16

Answer 1

Answer: (A)

8 and 7

Ideally, there are as many pairs of spinal nerves as the number of vertebrae. However, in man 31 pairs of spinal nerves are present including 8 pairs of cervical nerves, 12 pairs of thoracic nerves, 5 pairs of lumbar nerves, 5 pairs of sacral 25. nerves and 1 pair of coccygeal nerves.
The cervical vertebrae are the vertebrae of neck region. Whether the neck is short as in mouse or long as in a camel or giraffe, their number is seven in all mammals (including man) except some, eg, sloths and the sea cows.

Thus the correct answer is option A.