Question

Identify the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral, and coccygeal levels on the vertebral column and spinal cord

A) Cervical: C1-C7, Thoracic: T1-T12, Lumbar: L1-L5, Sacral: S1-S5, Coccygeal: Co1-Co4
B) Cervical: C8-C15, Thoracic: T13-T20, Lumbar: L6-L10, Sacral: S6-S10, Coccygeal: Co5-Co8
C) Cervical: C1-C5, Thoracic: T6-T12, Lumbar: L1-L4, Sacral: S1-S4, Coccygeal: Co1-Co3
D) Cervical: C2-C8, Thoracic: T2-T10, Lumbar: L3-L8, Sacral: S3-S7, Coccygeal: Co2-Co5

Answer 1

The proper identification of vertebral column and spinal cord levels are Cervical: C1-C7, Thoracic: T1-T12, Lumbar: L1-L5, Sacral: S1-S5, and Coccygeal: typically Co1, corresponding to Option A.

Step-by-step explanation:

The vertebral column and spinal cord are divided into several regions, each with a specific number of vertebrae or spinal nerves. These regions are named and numbered as follows:

• Cervical: C1-C7 vertebrae or spinal nerves
• Thoracic: T1-T12 vertebrae or spinal nerves
• Lumbar: L1-L5 vertebrae or spinal nerves
• Sacral: S1-S5 vertebrae, which are fused to form the sacrum
• Coccygeal: Typically four small coccygeal vertebrae that are fused to form the coccyx

The cervical spinal nerves are designated C1 to C8, rather than the vertebrae, which means there is an additional cervical nerve (C8) that emerges between the seventh cervical vertebra and the first thoracic vertebra.

The correct identification of the levels on the vertebral column and spinal cord is Option A: Cervical: C1-C7, Thoracic: T1-T12, Lumbar: L1-L5, Sacral: S1-S5, Coccygeal: Co1.