There are 6 intervertebral discs in the cervical spine. These cervical discs are located between the adjacent vertebrae. They enable the highly mobile cervical spine to move in all directions while supporting the neck and head above.
Neck muscles work together with tendons and ligaments to support and move the neck and head. Tendons are connective tissue that attach muscle to bone, whereas ligaments attach bones to other bones.
There are 8 pairs of spinal nerves in the cervical spine, labeled C1 to C8. Each one is named after the vertebra beneath it, except the C8 nerves, which are above the T1 vertebra. These nerves play important roles in sending messages to and from the spinal cord, enabling the brain to communicate with parts of the upper body.
The spinal cord is a critical bundle of nerve cells that carry electrical signals to and from the brain. One of the cervical spine’s important roles is to protect the spinal cord as nerve cells communicate with each other throughout the body.
The cervical region of the spine (neck) consists of seven vertebrae. Learn how the spinal discs function and how various conditions can cause neck pain and/or radiating pain.
The neck has 7 cervical vertebrae, labeled C1 through C7. They form a natural inward curvature, sometimes called a lordotic curve. The upper cervical vertebrae are smaller and more mobile, while the lower ones are bigger to handle heavier loads from the neck and head.
The C2-through-C5 spinal motion segments are located in the middle portion of the cervical spine. They include 3 separate spinal motion segments: C2 C3, C3 C4, and C4 C5. Each segment consists of 2 adjacent vertebrae and the anatomical structures connecting them. These segments are less likely to experience degeneration and pain compared to segments lower in the cervical spine.
The C5 C6 spinal motion segment is located in the lower portion of the cervical spine. This segment helps provide neck flexibility, supports the upper cervical spine and head, and protects the spinal cord and nerve pathways.
The C6 C7 spinal motion segment is located in the lower part of the cervical spine and consists of the C6 and C7 vertebrae, and the anatomical structures connecting them. This segment helps provide neck flexibility, supports the cervical spine and head, and protects the spinal cord and nerve pathways.
The C7 T1 spinal motion segment, also called the cervicothoracic junction, is located where the cervical spine and thoracic spine connect. It consists of the C7 and T1 vertebrae, and the anatomical structures connecting them. This segment provides minimal flexibility, supports the neck and head above, and protects the spinal cord and nerve pathways.