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Neck

The neck is the part of the body on many limbed vertebrates Vertebrate

Vertebrata is a subphylum [i] of chordate [i]s, specifically, those with backbone [i]s or spinal column [i] ... 

 that distinguishes the head Head

In anatomy [i], the head of an animal [i] is the rostral [i] part that usually comprises the brain [i], ... 

 from the torso Torso

Torso is an anatomical term for the greater part of the human body without the head and limbs.... 

 or trunk.

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Encyclopedia

The neck is the part of the body on many limbed vertebrates Vertebrate

Vertebrata is a subphylum [i] of chordate [i]s, specifically, those with backbone [i]s or spinal column [i] ... 

 that distinguishes the head Head

In anatomy [i], the head of an animal [i] is the rostral [i] part that usually comprises the brain [i], ... 

 from the torso Torso

Torso is an anatomical term for the greater part of the human body without the head and limbs.... 

 or trunk.

Anatomy of the human neck


Bony anatomy: The cervical spine

The cervical portion of the human spine Vertebral column

[i]e situated in the [[dorsum|dorsal]... 

comprises seven bony segments, typically referred to as C-1 to C-7, with cartilaginous disks between each vertebral body. The neck supports the weight of the head and protects the nerves that travel from the brain Brain

In animal [i]s, the brain, or encephalon , is the control center of the central nervous system [i]. ... 

 down to the rest of the body. In addition, the neck is highly flexible and allows the head to turn and flex in all directions. From top to bottom the cervical spine is gently curved in convex-forward fashion. It is the least marked of all the curves of the column.

Soft tissue anatomy



In the middle line below the chin can be felt the body of the hyoid bone, just below which is the prominence of the thyroid cartilage Adam's apple

The human larynx [i] rests in a frame of cartilage [i] bound by ligament [i]s and muscle [i]s. ... 

 called "Adam's apple Adam's apple

The human larynx [i] rests in a frame of cartilage [i] bound by ligament [i]s and muscle [i]s. ... 

," better marked in men than in women. Still lower the cricoid cartilage is easily felt, while between this and the suprasternal notch Suprasternal notch

The suprasternal notch also known as the jugular [i] notch, is part of the human anatomy [i] and is a la ... 

 the trachea and isthmus of the thyroid gland Thyroid

The thyroid is one of the larger endocrine [i] glands in the body.... 

 may be made out. At the side the outline of the sternomastoid muscle is the most striking mark; it divides the anterior triangle of the neck from the posterior. The upper part of the former contains the submaxillary gland also known as the parotid glands, which lies just below the posterior half of the body of the jaw Jaw

The jaw is either of the two opposable structures forming, or near the entrance to, the mouth [i]. ... 

. The line of the common and the external carotid arteries may be marked by joining the sterno-clavicular articulation to the angle of the jaw.

The eleventh or spinal accessory nerve corresponds to a line drawn from a point midway between the angle of the jaw and the mastoid process to the middle of the posterior border of the sterno-mastoid muscle and thence across the posterior triangle to the deep surface of the trapezius. The external jugular vein can usually be seen through the skin; it runs in a line drawn from the angle of the jaw to the middle of the clavicle Clavicle

|-
| *clavicle fracture [i]s
  • osteolysis [i]

... 

, and close to it are some small lymphatic glands. The anterior jugular vein is smaller, and runs down about half an inch from the middle line of the neck. The clavicle Clavicle

|-
| *clavicle fracture [i]s
  • osteolysis [i]

... 

 or collar-bone forms the lower limit of the neck, and laterally the outward slope of the neck to the shoulder is caused by the trapezius muscle.

Neck pain

Disorders of the neck are a common source of pain. The neck has a great deal of functionality but is also subject to a lot of stress. Common sources of neck pain include:

  • Whiplash, strained muscle or other soft tissue injury
  • Cervical herniated disc Spinal disc herniation

    A spinal disc herniation is a pathological condition in which a tear in the outer, fibrous ring of an intervertebral disc [i]... 

  • Cervical spinal stenosis
  • Osteoarthritis

See also

  • Throat
  • Anatomy Anatomy

    Anatomy , is the branch of biology [i] that deals with the structure and organization of living things [i] ... 

  • Hanging Hanging

    Hanging is a form of execution [i] or a method of committing suicide [i]. ... 

  • Torticollis
  • Vertebra Vertebra

    Vertebrae are the individual irregular bones [i] that make up the vertebral column [i] — a flexuou ... 

  • Spinal cord Spinal cord

    In vertebrates, the spinal cord is the part of the central nervous system [i] that is enclosed in and pr ... 

  • Chronic pain

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