The segments of the spinal cord are not always situated at the level of their corresponding vertebrae, and because of the difference, the spinal cord is shorter than the spine.

This difference is called the discrepancy of the spinal cord and spine (vertebral-spinal discrepancy). The segments of the spinal cord correspond to the vertebrae as follows:

C1 and C2 spinal cord segments match the first two cervical vertebral (C1, C2) levels.
C3 to C8 segments are situated between the third through seventh cervical vertebrae (C3 - C7).
T1 and T2 segments correspond to the first two thoracic vertebrae (T1, T2).
T3 to T12 segments are located between the third through eight or ninth thoracic vertebral (T3 - T8 / T9) levels.
The lumbar segments (L1 - L5) are positioned between the vertebrae T8 / T9 through T10 / T11.
Five sacral segments (S1 - S5) correspond to the T10 / T11 through L1 / L2 vertebral levels.
The coccygeal segment (Co1) is situated at the first or second lumbar vertebral (L1 / L2) level.

Note: The spinal cord contains eight cervical segments, but the spine is composed of only seven cervical vertebrae.

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Discrepancy of spinal cord and spine