Spinal Nerves and Nerve Plexuses

Start with the pathways

Nerve Pathways is a starting point for this collection. The mind map brings together cord and root anatomy, spinal nerves, nerve plexuses, dermatomes and myotomes. It also names nerves including the median, radial and ulnar nerves. Use it to see how the terms in the other resources fit together before focusing on a particular plexus.

The Spinal Nerves mind map provides another overview, with spinal nerve regions and examples of plexuses. Comparing it with Nerve Pathways can help you organize the vocabulary used across the page.

Focus on plexuses and roots

The cervical plexus mind map lists roots and nerves associated with that plexus. The Brachial plexus map describes a plexus as a branching network that brings spinal nerves together. These maps offer different places to focus after the broader pathway overview.

For a closer look at the lumbar plexus, the quiz Nerve and Nerve Root Review - Lumbar Plexus asks which roots feed particular nerves and which muscles those nerves innervate. The questions on the iliohypogastric and ilioinguinal nerves give you specific connections to practice.

Combine quizzes and flashcards

After studying a map, use Anatomy: Spinal nerves to check your understanding of spinal roots and the location of primary sensory neuron cell bodies. Return to the maps when you want to place a root or nerve in its wider pathway.

The flashcards on spinal nerves ask about nerve types and branches. A separate deck covers simplified cervical, lumbar and sacral dermatomes. These give you another way to work through terms alongside the maps and quizzes.

Use the unit context

This topic is a section of the Nervous System Overview unit in Anatomy. Its resources let you study spinal nerves and plexuses within that unit, moving between broad pathways and more specific root and nerve questions. Pick a resource that matches the connection you want to study next.