Back Pain Glossary » Cervical Spine and Back Pain

Cervical Spine and Back Pain

The cervical spine consists of the seven vertebrae that make up the spinal segments of the neck. The first cervical segment is a ring of cartilage that does not have a vertebral body. It is attached to the second vertebral body, which acts as a post that the first vertebral ring rotates around. Most of the rotation in the neck is located in these top two segments.

The next five cervical vertebral segments have three joints at each segment, including one disc in the front and a dually faceted of joints in the back.