The body is innervated by spinal nerves that branch off from the spinal cord. This innervation enables the brain to receive sensory inputs and send motor outputs. There are 8 cervical spinal nerves of the peripheral nervous system. Cervical spinal nerves C1, C2 and C3 help control the movements of the head and neck. Cervical spinal nerve C4 helps control upward shoulder movements. Cervical spinal nerve C3, C4 and C5 help power the diaphragm and aid in breathing. Cervical spinal nerve C6 helps in wrist extension and some functioning of biceps. Cervical spinal nerve C7 controls triceps and wrist extension. Cervical spinal nerve C8 helps control the hand. The<unk>  occurs when symptoms arise due to cervical vertebrae damage (misalignment, collapse, shift or disease, such as tumor) resulting in the improper functioning of the cervical spinal nerves. Examples of<unk>  Pathophysiology Chordoma The craniocervical junction region comprises C1 (Atlas), C2 (Axis) and the lower part of the skull: occipital bone. In case of tumor: chordoma, in the craniocervical junction region, this leads to pressure on the cervical spinal nerves, which results in their improper functioning of the cervical spinal nerves. Hence, leading to symptoms of<unk> . To decompress the pressure on the nerves, the tumor is removed and the foramen through which the spinal nerve roots travel through is enlarged to allow the nerves to pass through so that symptoms of<unk>  can be reduced and the nerves are sending signals. Atlato-Occipital Assimilation When the occipital bone and the atlas (C1) are fused together in a condition called atlato-occipital assimilation it causes improper functioning of the cervical spinal nerves due to the vascular compression. Surgical procedure can decompress the nerves and reduce symptoms. Trauma Traumatic injuries are caused when external forces damage the cervical spine, giving rise to various symptoms. In a car accident, the vehicle jerks the neck forward and backward resulting in cervical spine damage resulting in a whiplash. As a result, the cervical spine become misaligned and produces direct spinal cord irritation creating tighter muscles on one side of the body Neck braces can help temporarily. Surgery is required if needed. Non-surgical treatment, to realign spinal misalignment, is corrected by a chiropractor.
Cervicocranial syndrome
Brainstem stroke syndrome
Chiasmal syndrome
Occipital horn syndrome
Lateral medullary syndrome
Cerebellar stroke syndrome
Medial medullary syndrome
Cerebellopontine angle syndrome