There are 6 intervertebral discs in the cervical spine. They enable the highly mobile spine to move in all directions while supporting the neck and head.
Learn about spinal anatomy and how various conditions can cause pain and discomfort.
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. These nerves play important roles in sending messages to and from the spinal cord.
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 upper cervical vertebrae are smaller and more mobile, while the lower ones are bigger to handle heavier loads from the neck and head.
Learn how the lumbar spinal discs function and how lower back conditions can cause back pain and/or radiating pain.
The piriformis is a small muscle located deep in the buttock that can cause pain when overused, strained or injured.
Learn about sacroiliac joint anatomy and the most common causes of sacroiliac joint pain.
The C1 C2 spinal motion segment provides rotational motion, supports the head, and protects the spinal cord and nerve pathways.