Final answer:
The cauda equina is composed of lumbar, sacral, and coccygeal spinal nerves, which includes L2-L5, S1-S5, and the coccygeal nerve.
Step-by-step explanation:
The cauda equina is a collection of spinal nerves and spinal nerve rootlets that consists of the second through fifth lumbar nerve pairs, all sacral nerve pairs, and the coccygeal nerve. Specifically, the nerve pairs are L2-L5, S1-S5, and the coccygeal nerve. These nerves extend from the spinal cord and emerge from the lumbar and sacral regions of the spine, which include the nerves below the termination of the spinal cord, to form a bundle that resembles a horse's tail — hence the name 'cauda equina' which is Latin for 'horse's tail'.
Therefore, the spinal nerves that comprise the cauda equina are lumbar, sacral, and coccygeal. This corresponds to option 'b) lumbar, sacral, and coccygeal' which is the correct answer to the student's question.