What body parts are in your neck
James Austin
Updated on April 19, 2026
Cervical spinal cord. The cervical portion of your spinal cord is located in your neck. … Vertebrae. The vertebrae are bones that encase and protect your spinal cord.Vertebral disks. … Muscles. … Vertebral ligaments. … Nerves. … Blood vessels. … Pharynx.
What is the body part below your neck called?
At the top and front of the upper body, just below the neck is the collar bone. On the front side of the upper body is the chest, which in women includes the breasts.
What are the two bones below your neck?
HyoidThe hyoid bone, present at the front of the neck, has a body and two sets of hornsDetailsPrecursor2nd and 3rd branchial archIdentifiers
What glands or organs are in your neck?
Thyroid and parathyroid. The thyroid gland and parathyroid glands are located in front of the neck, below the larynx (voice box). The thyroid plays an important role in the body’s metabolism. The parathyroid glands play an important role in the regulation of the body’s calcium balance.What is located in the front of your neck?
Thyroid Gland The thyroid is located at the midline of the neck, under the skin and a few layers of thin muscles. It sits just in front of and to the side of the upper trachea. It secretes thyroid hormone which is important in regulating many functions of the body.
What organ is at the base of your throat?
Oropharynx: The middle part of the throat connects to the oral cavity (mouth). It allows air, food and fluid to pass through. Laryngopharynx (or hypopharynx): The bottom part of the throat is near the larynx (or voice box). It regulates the passage of air to the lungs and food and fluid to the esophagus.
What is the ball in your neck called?
The most common lumps or swellings are enlarged lymph nodes. These can be caused by bacterial or viral infections, cancer (malignancy), or other rare causes. Swollen salivary glands under the jaw may be caused by infection or cancer. Lumps in the muscles of the neck are caused by injury or torticollis.
Why does Sternocleidomastoid hurt?
Causes of SCM pain can include chronic health conditions, such as asthma, and acute respiratory infections, such as sinusitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and the flu. Other causes of SCM pain include: injuries such as whiplash or falls. overhead work such as painting, carpentry, or hanging curtains.What is on the side of the neck?
The quadrangular area is on the side of the neck and is bounded superiorly by the lower border of the body of the mandible and the mastoid process, inferiorly by the clavicle, anteriorly by a midline in front of the neck, and posteriorly by the trapezius muscle.
What is the back of the neck called in anatomy?The cervical spine – the neck and upper back, composed of the seven vertebrae closest to the skull. The cervical spine supports the weight and movement of your head and protects the nerves exiting your brain.
Article first time published onWhy does my throat move side to side?
Normally, the trachea runs right down the middle of your throat behind your larynx. But when pressure builds up in your chest cavity, your trachea can get pushed to one side of your throat wherever pressure is lower.
What does it mean when the front of your neck hurts?
Front neck pain is usually caused by a sore throat or muscle cramp. Depending on the cause, the pain should get better within 1 or 2 weeks. If you were recently in a vehicle collision, or if you think you’re having a heart attack, seek medical help immediately.
What is the area between your chin and neck called?
Submental spaceLatinSpatium submentaleAnatomical terminology
Is throat part of neck?
In vertebrate anatomy, the throat is the front part of the neck, internally positioned in front of the vertebrae. It contains the pharynx and larynx. An important section of it is the epiglottis, separating the esophagus from the trachea (windpipe), preventing food and drinks being inhaled into the lungs.
What does a swollen lymph node in neck feel like?
People can check whether their lymph nodes are swollen by gently pressing around the area, such as the side of the neck. Swollen lymph nodes will feel like soft, round bumps, and they may be the size of a pea or a grape. They might be tender to the touch, which indicates inflammation.
Do I have a tumor in my neck?
Changes in voice, headaches, sore throat or a cough may be symptoms of throat cancer. Other head and neck cancer symptoms include pain or ringing in the ears. Common symptoms of head and neck cancer tumors include: A lump in the nose, neck or throat, with or without pain.
Is it a muscle knot or tumor?
Muscle knots, also called myofascial trigger points, are a sign that the muscles are tense. However, they do not indicate a serious health problem. A lump is likely to be a muscle knot if: it is in a band of muscle rather than above a bone or on the skin.
What side of your throat is your windpipe?
It is behind the notch at your lower throat, between the inside edges of your collarbones. In a diagram of your trachea and other respiratory organs, you can see the trachea between the top lobes of the lungs. It is in front of your esophagus (tube that carries food from your mouth to your stomach).
Is your esophagus part of your throat?
The esophagus is a muscular tube connecting the throat (pharynx) with the stomach. The esophagus is about 8 inches long, and is lined by moist pink tissue called mucosa. The esophagus runs behind the windpipe (trachea) and heart, and in front of the spine.
What is the hard part of your throat?
Parts of the Throat and Neck. The hard palate separates the nose from the mouth. The soft palate is the back of the roof of the mouth. The epiglottis keeps food and liquids out of the trachea when you swallow.
How do you know if neck pain is serious?
- Is severe.
- Persists for several days without relief.
- Spreads down arms or legs.
- Is accompanied by a headache, numbness, weakness, or tingling.
When should I worry about my left neck pain?
Rarely, neck pain can be a symptom of a more serious problem. Seek medical care if your neck pain is accompanied by numbness or loss of strength in your arms or hands or if you have shooting pain into your shoulder or down your arm.
What does a pinched nerve in the neck feel like?
A pinched nerve in the neck may feel like pins and needles. It might also cause pain and weakness in the shoulder, arm, or hand. Severe cases require medical care. But if your symptoms are mild, you can try exercises for a pinched nerve in the neck.
Where is the sternocleidomastoid muscle located?
The sternocleidomastoid is a superficially located neck muscle that plays an important role in tilting your head and turning your neck, as well as other things. It courses from the back of your head and attaches to your breastbone and collar bone.
How do you test the sternocleidomastoid muscle?
Test the right sternocleidomastoid muscle by facing the patient and placing your right palm laterally on the patient’s left cheek. Ask the patient to turn the head to the left, resisting the pressure you are exerting in the opposite direction.
What do you do for a pulled sternocleidomastoid?
Pain management: Rest, ice, heat, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may help reduce pain. Some people find that alternating heat and ice is helpful. Physical therapy: Physical therapy can help a person regain strength in the neck and head. It can also help prevent chronic injuries.
What does thoracic pain feel like?
Thoracic back pain can feel like: Sharp pain localised to one spot either on the spine or to one side. General ache or throbbing pain affecting a wider area. A stiffness causing a loss of normal movement.
Can you have a pinched nerve in your neck?
Cervical radiculopathy, commonly called a “pinched nerve,” occurs when a nerve in the neck is compressed or irritated where it branches away from the spinal cord. This may cause pain that radiates into the shoulder and/or arm, as well as muscle weakness and numbness.
What does back pain between shoulder blades mean?
Poor posture, injury, or problems with the spine can all lead to upper back pain. A common cause of pain between the shoulder blades is muscle strain. Treatments for mild upper back pain include stretching exercises and pain relievers. Some cases of pain between the shoulder blades are preventable.
Can swollen glands feel like something stuck in throat?
An enlarged thyroid gland can make your throat feel tight and make it hard to breathe or swallow.
Why does it feel like something is around my neck?
The most common causes of globus pharyngeus are anxiety and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a form of acid reflux that causes the stomach’s contents to travel back up the food pipe and sometimes into the throat. This can result in muscle spasms that trigger feelings of an object caught in the throat.