Manage Back Pain

Neck Anatomy.

A better understanding of neck anatomy always helps a client and myself to work more effectively together in treating neck pain.


Your neck anatomy is complex - this is a hard fact to avoid! Treatment of neck pain is one of the most effective treatments I carry out in my physiotherapy clinic - and a better understanding of neck anatomy always helps the client and myself to work more effectively together. So, let's explore your neck anatomy a little to help you understand the causes of your neck pain - and the effect of movement and mobilisation on this pain.

I will attempt to make neck anatomy as simple as I can for you!!

So, here goes....

Your neck is made up of bones, muscles, ligaments, nerves and discs.

The neck is like a jigsaw puzzle, all the pieces work great together, but without each other they are incomplete.



neck anatomy Bones.
The neck is made up of 7 bones called vertebrae. Each of these bones is stacked one on top of the other and in between them rest structures called discs. These discs cushion the bones of your neck from rubbing directly against each other. They are like jam doughnuts. They have a crispy shell and a pulpy/jammy inside. If they move out of place they can cause a lot of pain. If they press on a nerve when they move out of place, the pain can be very severe.



Nerves.
The nerves of your neck are like little worms exiting between each vertebra. They are like the wiring system of your body and feed many muscles and organs. If they get pinched or diseased in any way the result can be serious. Imagine the feeding tube to a living organism becoming blocked - and what can happen as a result!



neck anatomy Muscles.
The muscles of your neck are like different sized chicken fillets! Each of these fillets has the role of moving and supporting your neck. If they are not working correctly your neck will not move correctly. And this will result in neck pain and movement dysfunction.






Ligaments.
The ligaments of your neck are another soft tissue that holds the bones of your neck together, without your ligaments the bones of your neck would topple over each other! They are the cementing material of your neck. Their position influences your muscle function. This adds to the jigsaw - if one system is out of line, so too will the other.
Now, I know I am making anatomy of the neck very simplistic here, but it's my opinion that if you understand it to this level then you will understand the effect of treatement (and incorrect treatment) on the different structures of your neck to relieve neck pain. As I say to my clients once we cover this much - let me know if you need more detail!



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The information on this web site does not replace specific medical advice. It should only be used to complement advice from your doctor. Always seek in-person advice from a doctor or other qualified health provider for your particular condition.