Cervical Spine Anatomy

We will be focusing on the cervical spine through the month of January focusing on all things neck. Neck pain isn’t the most common diagnosis seen in PT, but in my clinical experience, it definitely ranks up in the top five. It’s been estimated 20-70% of adults will experience neck pain that interferes with their daily activities during their lifetime. (Medicine (Baltimore) (2017;20)) Today, we’ll do a quick overview of cervical spine anatomy.

The cervical spine is comprised of seven vertebrae with intervertebral discs located between C2-C7. The neck is unique because the two uppermost vertebrae, C1 & C2, are structurally designed much differently than the other vertebrae in not just the cervical spine, but also the thoracic and lumbar spine. The uppermost vertebra, C1, also known as the atlas, articulates with the skull and C2, which is also referred to as the axis. The axis has a special process that allows C1 to rotate on and the majority of the rotation in our neck occurs at the C1-2 level.

The main functions of the cervical spine are to support the weight of the head and protect the spinal cord and vascular structures. The vertebrae are smaller to allow for increased range of motion, but the increased motion and flexibility places it at a greater risk of injury compared to other areas of the spine.

Check back each week to learn more about common diagnoses of neck pain, headaches, and physical therapy treatments and exercises.

If you are interested in learning more or about treatment options, don’t hesitate to call/text 701-318-4731 or email alison@pinnalcetherapywellness.com to learn how we can help. Don’t forget to follow on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date on the happenings at Pinnacle Therapy & Wellness.