Your neck needs to be strong to hold up your head, which may weigh 10 pounds or more.  But injuries can damage the structures of your cervical spine.  Pain and weakness in your neck and arms may result. 

The upper spine is a flexible column made up of the cervical vertebrae.  These seven bones are seperated by spongy, shock-absorbing disks.  The spinal cord runs through a large central opening (spinal canal) formed by the vertebrae.  Nerves branching from the spinal cord travel to your arms and other parts of your body through small openings (foramina) between the vertebrae. 

One of the most common cervical spine problems is a damaged disk or herniated disk.  For more information, please visit the Disk Herniation menu to the left.