What do spinal nerves primarily carry?

Spinal nerves have a crucial role in the nervous system as they are responsible for transmitting various types of signals throughout the body. Option C is accurate because spinal nerves are composed of both sensory and motor neurons, along with autonomic fibers.

Sensory neurons transmitting information to the central nervous system about various stimuli, such as touch, pain, and temperature, travel through the dorsal root of the spinal nerves. This sensory information is essential for the body to react to its environment.

Motor neurons, on the other hand, emerge from the ventral root of the spinal nerves to carry signals from the central nervous system to muscle fibers. This pathway allows for voluntary movements and reflex actions.

Furthermore, the autonomic fibers present in spinal nerves serve the involuntary systems of the body, such as the heart, glands, and smooth muscle. These fibers can regulate functions like heart rate and digestion without conscious control.

By encompassing sensory, motor, and autonomic signals, spinal nerves function as vital communication pathways within the nervous system, facilitating interaction between the body and its environment.