Cervical spine functions
On top of our complex of bones and “washers” rests the head. The head contains our computer system, better known as the brain, as well as important sensors associated with it such as the eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. The vertebrae, the discs, and the head form a series of flexible joints that allow the head to turn almost 180 degrees from one side to the other, to look up and down, and to tilt left and right. In addition, the head can adopt many positions that are combinations of the movements mentioned above.
The main functions of the cervical spine are:
• To support the head
• To allow it to move in many directions and adjust its position in fine degrees in order to assist the working of the sensors
• To provide a protected passageway for the bundle of nerves that extends from the brain to the sacrum, which is the tail end of the spine
The neck has a high degree of flexibility due to the “specially designed” structure of the joints, in particular those between the uppermost vertebrae and the head. Its flexibility is further increased because in this area no bony structures are attached to the spine. Therefore the neck can move relatively more freely than the rest of the spine, whose movements are restricted by the rib cage and the pelvis. On the other hand, because the neck is not surrounded and supported by these structures, it is also more vulnerable than the rest of the spine when it is subjected to strains. The very flexibility of the neck, so helpful and so necessary for everyday living, is also the cause of many of our problems. The wide range of movement of the neck exposes it to an equally wide range of stresses and strains.
