Overview
Neck pain brings its own vocabulary — cervical, whiplash, radiculopathy, posture. This glossary explains the terms you'll see across InjuryAtlas's neck pages in plain English.
Terms are listed alphabetically, with links for the full story.
A
Atlas (C1): The first cervical vertebra, which supports the skull and allows nodding movements.
Axis (C2): The second cervical vertebra, which forms a pivot that allows the head to rotate side to side.
C
Cervical spine: The seven vertebrae of the neck (C1–C7). "Cervical" simply means neck. See cervical spine overview.
Cervical radiculopathy: Irritation or compression of a nerve root in the neck, causing pain, tingling, numbness or weakness that travels down the arm. See cervical radiculopathy.
Cervical spondylosis: Age-related wear and tear in the neck — disc and joint changes — that is very common and often painless. See cervical spondylosis.
Cervicogenic headache: A headache that originates from the neck, usually on one side, often triggered by sustained postures or neck movement.
D
Dermatome: The area of skin supplied by a single nerve root in the neck. Arm numbness patterns can help identify which nerve is involved.
Disc (cervical disc): The shock-absorbing cushion between two neck vertebrae.
E
Ergonomics: Designing your work and environment — desk height, screen position, chair — so the body is not held in awkward sustained positions.
Extension: Moving the head backward, or looking up.
F
Facet joints: The small paired joints at the back of each neck level that guide and limit movement.
Flexion: Moving the head forward, or chin toward chest.
Forward head posture: A head position carried ahead of the shoulders, common with prolonged screen use. It increases load on the neck muscles but is rarely the sole cause of pain.
L
Lateral flexion: Tilting the head toward one shoulder.
Levator scapulae: A muscle running from the upper neck to the shoulder blade, commonly tight and tender in neck pain. See neck muscles anatomy.
M
Myelopathy: Compression of the spinal cord itself. It can cause clumsiness, balance problems, or numbness and weakness in both arms or legs — a red flag needing prompt assessment. See neck pain red flags.
Myotome: The group of muscles supplied by a single nerve root.
N
Nerve root: The part of a spinal nerve that branches off the spinal cord between vertebrae and travels toward the arm.
Neck strain: An injury to neck muscles or ligaments from overload, awkward positioning or sudden force. See neck strain.
P
Posture: The position of the body against gravity. Variety and movement matter more than holding one "perfect" position.
R
Radiculopathy: Nerve-root irritation causing symptoms along the nerve's path into the arm.
Red flags: Warning signs of something more serious — fever, severe headache, balance problems, clumsiness, or progressive weakness. See neck pain red flags.
Retraction: Drawing the chin straight back — the opposite of forward head posture. A common gentle exercise for neck posture.
Rotation: Turning the head to look over one shoulder.
S
Scalene muscles: Three pairs of small muscles in the side of the neck that bend and rotate the neck and assist breathing. When tight, they can press on nerves and blood vessels. See thoracic outlet syndrome.
Spasm: A sudden involuntary muscle contraction — the neck's protective response, not the injury itself.
Sternocleidomastoid (SCM): The prominent strap muscle running diagonally across the front of the neck that turns and tilts the head.
T
Thoracic outlet: The space between the collarbone, first rib and surrounding muscles where nerves and blood vessels travel to the arm. Compression here causes thoracic outlet syndrome.
Trapezius: The large muscle spanning the upper back and neck that shrugs, stabilises and moves the shoulder blade. See neck muscles anatomy.
Trigger point: A tight, tender spot in a muscle that can refer pain to other areas, such as headache or jaw pain.
W
Whiplash: The neck injury pattern caused by a sudden back-and-forth movement of the head, most often from a rear-end collision. See whiplash.
Related Resources
This information is for education only and is not a medical diagnosis. If you have balance problems, clumsiness, progressive weakness, severe headache, or fever with neck pain, seek medical care promptly.