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Peripheral Nerves & Functions<br />
At every vertebra in the<br />
spine, nerves branch out in<br />
pairs. In the neck there are<br />
more nerve pairs (8) than<br />
there are vertebrae (7).<br />
In the centre of each<br />
vertebra is a hole and<br />
when the vertebrae are<br />
stacked together they<br />
form a tunnel called the<br />
vertebral canal. This canal<br />
completely surrounds and<br />
protects the spinal cord.<br />
Pairs of peripheral nerves<br />
extend out from the<br />
spinal cord through gaps<br />
between each vertebrae.<br />
Each pair of peripheral<br />
nerves links the brain with<br />
various parts of the body.<br />
The diagram to the right<br />
gives an indication of what<br />
areas of the body each<br />
pair of nerves connect to.<br />
© New Zealand Spinal Trust, 2014<br />
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