Which of the following nerves provides sensation to the skin over the lateral thoracic area?

The intercostal nerves are responsible for providing sensory innervation to the skin over the lateral thoracic area. These nerves emerge from the thoracic spinal nerves and run between the ribs, supplying the skin and muscles in the costal and thoracic regions. Each intercostal nerve innervates the area of skin directly below each rib, allowing for sensation such as touch, pain, and temperature.

In this context, the intercostal nerves play a crucial role in the sensory feedback from the lateral thoracic skin, making them the correct answer for this question. Understanding the role of intercostal nerves is important for comprehending how the body receives and processes sensory information from specific anatomical regions.