Cervical Spine Basics

The cervical spine – the neck area of the spine – is part of a long flexible column called the spinal column.  It is made up of bones (called vertebrae), muscles, tendons and ligaments.  The neck area houses the cervical spinal cord that passes messages from your brain to the rest of your body, and enables range of motion of your neck.

What is the cervical spine?

Your cervical spine has several functions:

1)    It protects your spinal cord.  The spinal cord is the main cable carrying information from your brain to your arms and legs. Each vertebra has a large hole called the vertebral foramen, and when the vertebrae are stacked together it forms a protective passageway (called the spinal canal) that the cord passes through.

2)    Supporting the head and its movements.  Your cervical spine supports your head, which weighs approximately 10 pounds, and facilitates the flexibility and range of motion of the head and neck.

3)    It protects the arteries carrying blood to your brain.  Openings in the C1 to C6 vertebrae provide a pathway through which vertebral arteries carry blood to your brain.  This is the only section in the entire spine with holes for arteries to pass through.

What does the cervical spine do?

Cervical spine anatomy

The cervical spine is made up of vertebral bodies that are numbered (from C1 to C7) and are separated by a disc (soft cushion-like material). The spinal cord travels within the canal behind the vertebral bodies and is bordered by other bones (lamina and spinous process). The spinal cord is bathed in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). At each level of the cervical spine, individual nerves responsible for movement and sensation exit through an opening (foramen) and go to right/left arm. There are also ligaments, joints and bones at each level of the spinal canal

As we age, the spine begins to degenerate, which can lead to conditions such as spondylosis, bone spurs, and disc degeneration:

Spondylosis: Arthritis in the neck caused by age-related, general wear and tear

Bone spurs: Also called osteophytes, these are small smooth bony growths that are caused by wear and tear, and age-related conditions

Disc degeneration: When the intervertebral discs start to break down due to wear and tear and/or age-related shrinking as the disc’s water content decreases

While these conditions are often present without causing symptoms, they sometimes lead to more serious disorders.