What is the Neck?

The neck is the part of your body that connects your head to your chest and shoulders. It's like a strong, flexible bridge that holds up your head and lets it move in many directions. But the neck also does much more—it protects important body parts inside it.

Main Jobs of the Neck:

1. Supports the headYour head is heavy—about 4.5 to 5 kg—and the neck holds it up all day.

2. Allows movementThe neck helps you turn your head side to side, up and down, and tilt it.

3. Protects important systemsInside your neck are nerves, blood vessels, air tubes, and food pipes.

Important Parts Inside the Neck:

1. Bones (Cervical Vertebrae)

• You have 7 bones in your neck’s spine, called C1 to C7.

• These bones form the top part of your backbone.

• They protect your spinal cord, which carries messages between your brain and body.

2. Muscles

• These are what help you move your head and neck.

• Big muscles like the sternocleidomastoid help you turn your head.

• Back muscles like the trapezius support posture and help with movement.

3. Trachea (Windpipe)

• This is the airway that brings air from your nose/mouth to your lungs.

• It sits in the front of the neck.

4. Esophagus (Food Pipe)

• Right behind the trachea is the esophagus, which carries food and water from your mouth to your stomach.

5. Blood Vessels

• Two very important blood vessels run through the neck:

  • Carotid arteries: Carry blood from your heart to your brain.

  • Jugular veins: Carry used blood back from your brain to your heart.

6. Nerves

• The spinal cord starts in the neck and is like a bundle of wires that controls body movement and feeling.

• Special nerves also control breathing and shoulder movement.

7. Larynx (Voice Box)

• Located near the front of the neck.

• It lets you speak, breathe, and swallow.

• It contains the vocal cords.

• The Adam's apple is part of the larynx.

8. Thyroid Gland

• A small gland in the front of your neck shaped like a butterfly.

• It makes hormones that control your body’s energy and growth.

What Happens in the Neck Every Day?

• Breathing: Air moves through the trachea.

• Swallowing: Food and drink go down the esophagus.

• Talking: Vocal cords vibrate in the larynx to make sounds.

• Movement: You move your neck all day when you look around.

• Nerve signals: Information goes up and down between your brain and body.