Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Intermediate Practice Exam

The spinal nerves branch out from the spinal cord and serve what function?

1. Carry signals to and from the brain exclusively

2. Control voluntary muscle movement only

3. Carry signals to and from the body

4. Transmit sensory information only

The correct answer is: Carry signals to and from the body

The correct choice highlights the fundamental role of spinal nerves in the nervous system. Spinal nerves emerge from the spinal cord and have both sensory and motor components, making them crucial pathways for communication between the body and the central nervous system. This means they are responsible for transmitting signals not only from the brain to various parts of the body, facilitating movement and reflexive actions, but also from sensory receptors in the body back to the brain for processing sensation. Spinal nerves include both afferent fibers, which carry sensory information from the body to the brain, and efferent fibers, which send motor commands from the brain to the muscles. This dual role is essential for coordinating bodily functions, responding to environmental stimuli, and enabling voluntary and involuntary actions. In contrast to the other choices, which suggest limitations on the functions of spinal nerves, the correct answer reflects their broader role in facilitating a bidirectional communication system throughout the body.