BONY SKELETON OF THE NECK

Like other regions of the body, the neck has a central bony skeletal core upon which other structures attach or are related. The bones of the neck consist of the base of the skull and the 7 cervical vertebrae.

If we take a look at the base of the skull, the major parts that are related to the upper neck are the:

1. Foramen magnum
2. Occipital condyle (articulates with the superior process of the atlas.
3. External occipital protuberance
4. Mastoid process