Editing Cervical vertebrae (section)

==Clinical significance==
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   | footer    = ''Cervical lines'' are annotations used in [[medical imaging]] of the cervical vertebrae, here seen on [[projectional radiography|X-ray]] and [[CT scan|CT]], respectively. Incongruencies indicate [[cervical fracture]], [[spondylolisthesis]] and/or ligament injury.
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   | image2    = Vertebral lines.png
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'''Cervical degenerative changes''' arise from conditions such as [[spondylosis]], [[stenosis]] of [[intervertebral disc]]s, and the formation of [[osteophyte]]s. The changes are seen on [[radiograph]]s, which are used in a grading system from 0–4 ranging from no changes (0) to early with minimal development of osteophytes (1) to mild with definite osteophytes (2) to moderate with additional disc space [[stenosis]] or narrowing (3) to the stage of many large osteophytes, severe narrowing of the disc space, and more severe [[vertebra |vertebral end plate]] [[Sclerosis (medicine)|sclerosis]] (4).<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Ofiram|first1=Elisha|last2=Garvey|first2=Timothy A|last3=Schwender|first3=James D|last4=Denis|first4=Francis|last5=Perra|first5=Joseph H|last6=Transfeldt|first6=Ensor E|last7=Winter|first7=Robert B|last8=Wroblewski|first8=Jill M|title=Cervical degenerative index: a new quantitative radiographic scoring system for cervical spondylosis with interobserver and intraobserver reliability testing|journal=Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology|date=2009|volume=10|issue=1|pages=21–26|doi=10.1007/s10195-008-0041-3|pmc=2657349|pmid=19384631}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Garfin|first1=Steven R|last2=Bono|first2=Christopher M|title=Degenerative Cervical Spine Disorders|url=http://www.spineuniverse.com/conditions/neck-pain/degenerative-cervical-spine-disorders|website=spineuniverse|access-date=25 October 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161028015727/http://www.spineuniverse.com/conditions/neck-pain/degenerative-cervical-spine-disorders|archive-date=28 October 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last1=Christie|first1=A|last2=Läubli|first2=R|last3=Guzman|first3=R|last4=Berlemann|first4=U|last5=Moore|first5=R J|last6=Schroth|first6=G|last7=Vock|first7=P|last8=Lövblad|first8=K O|title=Degeneration of the cervical disc: histology compared with radiography and magnetic resonance imaging|journal=Neuroradiology|date=2005|volume=47|issue=10|pages=721–729|doi=10.1007/s00234-005-1412-6|pmid=16136264|s2cid=10970503|url=http://doc.rero.ch/record/310763/files/234_2005_Article_1412.pdf}}</ref>

Injuries to the cervical spine are common at the level of the second cervical vertebrae, but neurological injury is uncommon. C4 and C5 are the areas that see the highest amount of cervical spine trauma.<ref>[https://www.nscisc.uab.edu/PublicDocuments/reports/pdf/2012%20NSCISC%20Annual%20Statistical%20Report%20Complete%20Public%20Version.pdf 2012 Annual Report] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222023936/https://www.nscisc.uab.edu/PublicDocuments/reports/pdf/2012%20NSCISC%20Annual%20Statistical%20Report%20Complete%20Public%20Version.pdf |date=2014-02-22 }}, Table 64, page 66</ref>

If it does occur, however, it may cause death or profound disability, including paralysis of the arms, legs, and [[Thoracic diaphragm|diaphragm]], which leads to [[respiratory failure]].

Common patterns of injury include the odontoid fracture and the [[hangman's fracture]], both of which are often treated with immobilization in a [[cervical collar]] or [[Orthotics|halo brace]].

A common practice is to immobilize a patient's cervical spine to prevent further damage during transport to hospital. This practice has come under review recently as incidence rates of unstable spinal trauma can be as low as 2% in immobilized patients. In [[clearing the cervical spine]], Canadian studies have developed the Canadian C-Spine Rule (CCR) for physicians to decide who should receive radiological imaging.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ohri.ca/emerg/cdr/cspine.html|title=Canadian C-Spine Rule - Emergency Medicine Research - Ottawa Hospital Research Institute|website=www.ohri.ca|access-date=6 May 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170514050959/http://www.ohri.ca/emerg/cdr/cspine.html|archive-date=14 May 2017}}</ref>

===Landmarks===
{{See also|Anatomical landmark}}
The [[vertebral column]] is often used as a marker of [[Human body|human anatomy]]. This includes:
* At C1, base of the [[nose]] and the [[hard palate]]
* At C2, the [[Tooth|teeth]] of a closed mouth
* At C3, the [[mandible]] and [[hyoid bone]]
* At C4, the [[common carotid artery]] bifurcates.
* From C4–5, the [[thyroid cartilage]]<ref name="mm">{{MedicalMnemonics|3548|}}</ref>
* From C6–7, the [[cricoid cartilage]]<ref name="mm" />
* At C6, the [[Esophagus|oesophagus]] becomes continuous with the [[laryngopharynx]] and also where the [[larynx]] becomes continuous with the [[trachea]]. It is also the level where the [[carotid]] pulse can be palpated against the transverse process of the C6 vertebrae.