Problems. Knowing. back of the

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Introdu

Welcom Knowing Two com posterior front of t This guid  w  h

uction

e to BodyZo g the main pa mmon anatom r refers to the the neck is th de gives a g what parts ma ow these par one Physiot arts of your n mic terms are e back of the herefore call general over ake up the ne rts work herapy pati neck and ho e useful as th e neck. The p led the anter rview of the eck ient resourc ow these part hey relate to part of the sp rior cervical anatomy of ce about Ce ts work is im o the neck. T pine that mo area. The ba f the neck. I ervical Spine mportant as y The term ante oves through ack of the ne It should he e Problems. you learn to erior refers t h the neck is eck is called elp you unde

.

care for you to the front o called the c d the posterio erstand: ur neck pr of the nec ervical sp or cervica

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Important Structures

The important parts of the cervical spine include:  bones and joints

 nerves

 connective tissues  muscles

 spinal segments

This section highlights important structures in each category.

Bones and Joints

The human spine is made up of 24 spinal bones, called vertebrae. Vertebrae are stacked on top of one another to

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Spine

The first starts wh where C7

e

seven verteb here the top v 7 joins the to brae make u vertebra (C1 op of the tho up the cervica ) connects to oracic spine al spine. Doc o the bottom (the chest ar ctors often r m of the skull rea). refer to these l. The cervic e vertebrae a cal spine cur

as C1 to C7. rves slightly

The cerv inward a

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Cervi

The base of the atl vertebrae

ical Spin

e of the skull las. The open e, the atlas al

ne

l sits on top o ning is large

lso has much

of C1, also c because the h wider bony

called the atl

e spinal cord y projections

las. Two thic d is wider wh s pointing ou ckened bony here it first e ut to each sid y arches form exits the brai

de.

m a large hol n and skull.

le throug Compare

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Atlas

The atlas The dens left and r s sits on top o s points up an right. of the C2 ve nd fits throu ertebra. The ugh a hole in C2 is called n the atlas. Th the axis. Th he joints of t he axis has a the axis give

large bony k e the neck m knob on top most of its ab , called t ility to tu

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Axis

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Each ver block of pedicle b The lami form a ho rtebra is mad bone, called bones connec

ina bones for ollow tube th de of the sam d the vertebra ct directly to rm the outer hat surround me parts. The al body. A b o the back of r rim of the b ds the spinal e main sectio bony ring atta f the vertebra bony ring. W cord. The la on of each ce aches to the al body. Two When the vert

aminae provi ervical verte back of the o lamina bon tebrae are st ide a protect ebra, from C2 vertebral bo

nes join the

tacked on top tive roof ove

2 to C7, is fo ody. This rin

pedicles to c p of each oth er the spinal ormed by ng has tw complete her, the b cord.

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Cervi

A bony k called sp top of yo you'll fee

ical Vert

knob project inous proces our spine is th el another lar

tebra

s out at the p sses, can be he spinous p rge spinous p point where felt as you r process of C2 process. Tha

the two lami rub your fing 2. At the bas at's C7. ina bones jo gers up and d se of the nec oin together a down the bac ck where the

at the back o ck of your sp cervical and

of the spine. pine. The lar d thoracic sp

These pr rgest bum pines join

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Spino

Each ver projectio the rest o transvers blood. Between slide aga column, with the v

ous Proc

rtebra in the ns are called of the spine, se foramen, p each pair of inst one ano each vertebr vertebra belo

cesses

spine has tw d transverse the neck ver provides a p f vertebrae a other to allow ra has two fa ow. wo bony knob processes. T rtebrae have passageway f

are two joints w the neck to acet joints on

bs that point The atlas has

a hole that p for arteries th s called face o move in ma n each side. T t out to the s s the widest passes down hat run up ea et joints. The any direction The ones on ide, one on t transverse p n through eac ach side of t

ese joints con ns. Except f n top connect

the left and o processes of

ch transverse the neck to s

nnect the ver for the very t

t to the verte

one on the ri all the cervi e process. Th supply the ba

rtebrae toget top and botto ebra above; t ight. The cal verte his hole, ack of the ther in a om of the the ones

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Facet

The surfa covers th On the le nerves th disc (des pressure tunnel, n

Joints

aces of the fa he ends of m eft and right hat leave the cribed later) on the nerve arrowing the facet joints ar ost joints. It side of each spine at eac ) sits directly e. A facet joi e hole and pi re covered b allows the e h vertebra is h vertebra g y in front of t int sits in ba inching the n by articular c ends of bone a small tunn go through th the opening. ck of the for nerve. cartilage. Ar es to move ag nel called a n he foramina, . A bulged o ramen. Bone rticular carti gainst each o neural foram one on the l or herniated d e spurs that f ilage is a sm other smooth men. (Forami left and one disc can narr form on the f

mooth, rubber hly, without

ina is the plu

on the right row the open facet joint ca ry materi friction. ural term . The inte ning and an projec