Introduction to Neck Pain

The neck is often one of the most neglected areas. In reality, the neck serves as a connection point for many organs. It acts as a junction for the head, shoulders, and arms. The neck connects the head to the other parts of the body. It carries the spinal cord, nerves, and blood vessels.

 Beyond that, the neck acts as a support for the head. Its high mobility makes it vulnerable to impacts and injuries. That's why it ranks second as a pain source within the spine after the lumbar region. Many pain syndromes around the shoulder, arm, and head are due to disorders in the neck muscles and other structures. Therefore, the importance that needs to be given to the neck is paramount. The purpose of this section is to ensure that individuals give the importance required for their neck, guide the measures that need to be taken on their own for pain originating from the neck, and educate on practices that can be done in conjunction with a physician's advice when damage occurs.

Anatomy and Functions of the Neck

The spine in the neck  consists of 7 vertebrae. The 8 nerves emerging from the spinal cord carry sensory and motor messages (including pain) between the head and the shoulders, chest, and arms. 4 main arteries carrying blood between the heart and the head also pass through the neck.

 

•  The cervical vertebrae that make up the cervical spine (neck) are numbered from top to bottom as C1-C7. All vertebrae have prominences that can be felt from the back of the neck; the muscles and ligaments that connect the vertebrae attach here.  

• The delicate spinal cord passes through the canal formed by the vertebrae and is protected by them. Cervical nerves are like branches of a pine tree and come out of small holes between the vertebrae.

 

• Between the vertebrae are cartilage-like structures called "discs" that function as cushions, absorbing shock and preventing it from reaching the vertebrae.
• Like the discs between the lumbar vertebrae, the discs located between the cervical vertebrae have a gelatinous center surrounded by a capsule made of tough connective tissue. Just as with lumbar vertebrae, cervical vertebrae sit on top of each other with left and right facet joints in the posterior regions.

• The neck moves much more than any other part of the spine. It is a strong and flexible system of muscles and ligaments that always keeps the head upright and moves in countless combinations in three basic ways.
• When the head is rocked up and down (at 90-degree angles), the liquid inside the discs between the cervical vertebrae compresses slightly. Bending the head forward is called flexion, and bending it backward is called extension.

• When the head is rocked from side to side (approximately 180 degrees), the cervical vertebrae rotate on top of each other.

 

• When the head tilts towards the shoulders (approximately 120 degrees), the muscles contract on one side while stretching on the other. The C4, C5, and C6 vertebrae located in the center are more involved in this tilting motion. The foramina on the side to which the head is tilted compress.

 

• The neck protects valuable structures like the spinal cord, nerves, and blood vessels. Pain originating from the neck can be felt in areas like the skull, face, ears, shoulders, arms, hands, fingers, and sometimes the chest. This is  called as referred pain.