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The bony anatomy of the neck includes 7
blocks of bone known as vertebra. The 1st is called the Atlas
because it supports our head. The Atlas rests on the second
neck (cervical) vertebra called the Axis. The remaining
cervical vertebra are identified by their number (cervical
vertebra 3 through 7).
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Extending from the back of each cervical
vertebra is an arch of bone. The muscles of the neck are attached to
this arch. The walls of the arch are called laminae and
the points (the bony bumps you feel on the back of your neck)
are called spinous processes. These arches are connected to each
other by ligaments and by joints on both the left and right called facet joints. The
facet joints are what allow us to bend and twist our neck. Protected in its middle is the spinal cord, which comes
from the brain and travels down towards the tail bone.
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Nerves, which carry
information from our brain to our arms exit to the left and
right above and below each cervical vertebra. They are named by the
cervical vertebra on top of which they exit. For example, the nerve
above the first cervical vertebra is called the first cervical (C1)
nerve; the nerve above the second cervical vertebra is called the
second cervical nerve (C2), and so on. The
only exception to this rule is the eighth cervical (C8) nerve.
Because there is no eighth cervical vertebra, the C8 nerve is the
name given to the nerves which leave the spinal cord below the last
(seventh) cervical vertebra.
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Each cervical nerve has a specific area
in the arm to which it provides feeling called a dermatome.
Each cervical nerve controls specific muscles and
reflexes. Therefore, when your doctor is testing the muscles,
reflexes, and sensation in your arms he is evaluating the health of
your nerves.
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