Final answer:
There are indeed 31 pairs of spinal nerves linked to the spinal cord, confirming the statement as true. These nerves are organized into cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral, and coccygeal groups and are essential for sensory and motor functions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that there are 31 pairs of spinal nerves is true. These spinal nerves are critical for the body's sensory and motor functions. The spinal cord is divided into segments that are connected to different parts of the body through these nerves. Each nerve pair consists of two roots: a dorsal root for sensory input and a ventral root for motor output. The arrangement includes eight pairs of cervical nerves (C1 to C8), twelve pairs of thoracic nerves (T1 to T12), five pairs of lumbar nerves (L1 to L5), five pairs of sacral nerves (S1 to S5), and one pair of coccygeal nerves. The cervical nerves are unique in that the C1 emerges between the first cervical vertebra and the occipital bone, and the C8 emerges between the seventh cervical vertebra and the first thoracic vertebra. In contrast, other spinal nerves emerge between their respective vertebrae. This system ensures that both sensory information and motor commands can be transmitted efficiently to and from the brain.