Structures · Vertebrae
C4 vertebra
Vertebra 4 of the cervical (neck) spine. This page uses the vertebral level system; the cord segments that lie opposite it have different names.
At a glance
- Level system
- C4 vertebra (vertebral level)
- Cord segments opposite its body
- C5 to C6Model mapping (PAM50 cord in this column); varies between people. Frostell et al. 2016; De Leener et al. 2018; Cadotte et al. 2014
- Canal, front to back × side to side
- 13.8 × 26.6 mmMeasured on one model: the Visible Human male, imaged as a supine cadaver. Not a normal range
What the sources say
“In the neck, there are seven cervical vertebrae, each designated with the letter “C” followed by its number.” Betts et al. 2022, §7.3
“Figure 7.25 Cervical Vertebrae A typical cervical vertebra has a small body, a bifid spinous process, transverse processes that have a transverse foramen and are curved for spinal nerve passage.” Betts et al. 2022, §7.3
“A second set of vessels that supply the CNS are the vertebral arteries , which are protected as they pass through the neck region by the transverse foramina of the cervical vertebrae.” Betts et al. 2022, §13.3
Connections to the rest of the body
Muscle attachments
Muscles that hold up and turn the head
Semispinalis capitis and splenius capitis run from the cervical and upper thoracic vertebrae to the back of the skull and tilt or turn the head.
Arterial supply
Vertebral arteries climb through the neck vertebrae
Each vertebral artery leaves the subclavian artery, climbs through the holes in the transverse processes of the cervical vertebrae and enters the skull to supply the brainstem, cerebellum and spinal cord.
Betts et al. 2022, §20.5; Betts et al. 2022, §13.3 · Show on the body
Arterial supply
Anterior spinal artery: down the front of the cord
Branches of the two vertebral arteries join into the anterior spinal artery, which runs down the front of the cord in its midline groove.
Venous drainage
Vertebral veins drain the cervical cord
Veins from the base of the brain and the cervical cord travel through the neck vertebrae beside the vertebral arteries and empty into the brachiocephalic veins.
For learning only. Levels and sizes vary between people; nothing here describes a particular person or gives medical advice. Sources: Betts et al. 2022, §7.3; Betts et al. 2022, §13.3; Frostell et al. 2016; De Leener et al. 2018; Cadotte et al. 2014; Betts et al. 2022, §13.4; Betts et al. 2022, §11.3; Betts et al. 2022, §20.5.