US Medical Term · anatomy
Cervical Vertebrae
Vértebras cervicales
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Cervical Vertebrae |
| Spanish (Español) | Vértebras cervicales |
| Chinese (中文) | 頸椎 |
| Korean (한국어) | 경추 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Đốt sống cổ |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Mga buto ng leeg |
| Portuguese (Português) | Vértebras cervicais |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | กระดูกสันหลังส่วนคอ |
| Japanese (日本語) | 頸椎 |
What it means
The cervical vertebrae are the seven bones that make up the neck portion of your spine, labeled C1 through C7. They sit at the very top of your spinal column, starting just below the skull and ending at the top of the chest. These small but critical bones support the weight of your head, protect your spinal cord and nerves, and allow your neck to move in many directions. C1 and C2, sometimes called the atlas and axis, are specially shaped to allow head rotation. Cervical spine injuries, such as fractures or herniated discs, can affect the nerves running to your arms, hands, and shoulders.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
I have neck pain and arm numbness that my doctor thinks is from my cervical vertebrae.
Tengo dolor de cuello y entumecimiento en el brazo que mi médico cree que proviene de las vértebras cervicales.
The MRI showed a problem at C5-C6 in my cervical spine.
La resonancia magnética mostró un problema en C5-C6 en la columna cervical.
After the car accident, the doctor checked my cervical vertebrae for fractures.
Después del accidente, el médico revisó las vértebras cervicales para detectar fracturas.
Where you'll see it
Related terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026