The ______ branch of a spinal nerve innervates the muscles and skin of the back.Multiple choice question.posteriorlateralvisceralanterior

The correct answer is posterior.

To elaborate, each spinal nerve has two primary branches: the dorsal (or posterior) ramus and the ventral (or anterior) ramus. The dorsal ramus is responsible for innervating the muscles and skin of the back. It carries sensory and motor fibers to various structures in the back, including the intrinsic muscles of the back and the overlying skin. On the other hand, the ventral ramus innervates the limbs and the anterior and lateral aspects of the trunk. The distinction between these branches is essential for understanding how the nervous system conveys motor control and sensory information in the human body. Therefore, the posterior branch is crucial for back muscle function and sensory perception in the skin of the back.