Cervical enlargement
Encyclopedia
The cervical enlargement corresponds with the attachments of the large nerves which supply the upper limbs.
It extends from about the third cervical
to the second thoracic vertebra, its maximum circumference (about 38 mm.) being on a level with the attachment of the sixth pair of cervical nerves
.
The reason behind the enlargement of the cervical region is because of the increased neural input and output to the upper limbs.
An analogous region in the lower limbs occurs at the lumbar enlargement
.
It extends from about the third cervical
Cervical vertebrae
In vertebrates, cervical vertebrae are those vertebrae immediately inferior to the skull.Thoracic vertebrae in all mammalian species are defined as those vertebrae that also carry a pair of ribs, and lie caudal to the cervical vertebrae. Further caudally follow the lumbar vertebrae, which also...
to the second thoracic vertebra, its maximum circumference (about 38 mm.) being on a level with the attachment of the sixth pair of cervical nerves
Cervical nerves
The cervical nerves are the spinal nerves from the cervical vertebrae.Although there are seven cervical vertebrae , there are eight cervical nerves . All nerves except C8 emerge above their corresponding vertebrae, while the C8 nerve emerges below the C7 vertebra...
.
The reason behind the enlargement of the cervical region is because of the increased neural input and output to the upper limbs.
An analogous region in the lower limbs occurs at the lumbar enlargement
Lumbar enlargement
The lumbar enlargement gives attachment to the nerves which supply the lower limbs.It commences about the level of T11, and reaches its maximum circumference, of about 33 mm., at L1 , below which it tapers rapidly into the conus medullaris.An analogous region for the upper limbs exists at the...
.