Nerves coming out of your spinal cord?

Question

do you know of a method to remember which nerve comes out of where and thier names or where the go and innervated?

any help is appreciated.

ps. i am referring especially to the nerves of the lumbar and sacral regions (the thorax are easy i know), eg how to remember which nerves make up the pudental, etc. thnx a lot!

Answer 1

Well - the nerve roots are easy. Their names are C1, C2, C3 ... all the way down to C8 (yes I know there are only 7 cervical vertebrae) then T1 through to T12 and then L1 through to L5, S1 to S4

If you're looking for the branches of the lumbar plexus, there is a good page on Wiki with a good diagram.

Mnemonic: Interested In Getting Laid On Friday?
L1
Ilio-hypogastric
Ilio-inguinal

L1, L2: Genito-femoral
L2,L3: Lateral Femoral Cutaneous

L2,3,4:
Obturator
Femoral

(Accessory Obturator)
Nerves to Psoas and Iliacus

L4,L5: Lumbosacral Trunk -> sacral plexus

No mnemonic for the sacral plexus, I'm afraid. There is probably one in my little mnemonic book but it was too hard to remember :-)

Sacral Plexus
Superior and Inferior Gluteal
Sciatic
Nerve to Pyriformis
Posterior Femoral Cutaneous
Perforating Cutaneous
Pudendal
Nerves to various muscles
- Quadratus Femoris, Inferior Gemellus
- Obturator Internus, Superior Gemellus
further down
- Levator Ani, Coccygeus, Sphincter Ani Externus

Answer 2

Hah. That reminds me of teaching second year med students all the cranial nerves!

Lets see. Lumbar nerves; their names are remembered by Interested In Getting Laid On Friday
Iliohypogastric, Ilioinguinal, Genitofemoral Lateral femoral cutaneous, Obturator, Femoral.

Sacral nerves goes; Queens Serve Special Tea; Commoners Never Injoy No Pipping Pot of Coffee.

Sorry, that's all the mnemonics I can remember.