What Is the Cervical Spine?
The lengthy, pliable column of bones known as your spine (backbone) guards your spinal cord. It starts at the base of your skull and ends at the pelvis, where your tailbone lies. Your neck section of the spine is known as your cervical spine. There are seven bones in it (vertebrae C1–C7).
Your spinal cord is protected from injury by your vertebrae. The circular cushions between your vertebrae in your spine are known as discs. They resemble jelly doughnuts in that they have tougher outer layers and soft, gel-like centers. These discs give you flexibility and help to protect your vertebrae.
In order for your brain to convey information and communicate with the rest of your body, your spinal cord functions as a highway that connects the nerves that are dispersed throughout your body to your brain. The first segment of a nerve that emerges from your spinal cord is called a nerve root. It serves as the starting point for the nerves that branch out to different body parts. Surrounding your spine are a number of nerve roots that branch out to various body areas.
When a nerve gets pinched, it can affect other nerves that surround it. This explains how a pinched nerve in your neck (cervical radiculopathy) can cause pain to travel down your arm.