01 / Location & anatomical relationships
Between your head and your shoulders.
02 / Structure & organization
The cervical vertebrae support the neck posteriorly. Anteriorly lie the airway, pharynx, esophagus and thyroid region, with major neurovascular bundles to either side. Fascial layers organize muscles and create routes between head and chest.
03 / Function
It contains bones, muscles and passages for air and food.
04 / Mechanism
A stack of small vertebrae supports the head. Muscles turn and tilt it, while blood vessels carry blood to and from the head. The windpipe and esophagus pass through this crowded region on their way to the chest.
Part of a bigger picture
The neck belongs in our torso & skin collection. Explore the nearby parts to see how this area of the body fits together.
Explore torso & skin →FOR DEEPER STUDY
Connect structure with function
Study the neck in compartments and triangles. Surface landmarks help orient deeper structures, but vessels, nerves and the airway occupy different depths.
Check your understanding
Locate the neck in relation to its neighbors. Explain how the structural features described above support its function, then distinguish it from a nearby structure with a different role.
Keep learning
Continue with OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology for system-level study. This atlas is educational and has not undergone independent medical peer review.