Cervical pain or neck pain has well-defined locations of pain (dermatomes) based on which vertebra or disc in the spine has been damaged. This can help you determine the cause or the nature of the symptoms you experience, even though they may see unrelated.

C2-3 (Just below the base of the skull) Nerve root affected: C3
Description: Pain is located in the back of the neck, mastoid process, or pinna of the ear. Sensory changes may include loss of sensory perception in the back of the neck, Mastoid process or pinna of the ear. Motor deficits at this level would be undetectable except by EMG study. No relfex changes are noted at this level.

C3-4 Nerve Root C4: Description: Pain located in the back of the neck, levator, scapula, or anterior chest. Sensory changes may include Back of the neck, levator, scapula and anterior chest. Motor deficits again are not detectable at this level except by EMG study. No reflex changes are noted.

C4-5 Nerve root C5: Description: Pain is located at the neck, tip of shoulder, and anterior arm. Sensory changes are noted in the deltoid region. Motor deficits are noted in the deltoid and the bicep. Reflex changes can be seen at the bicep.

C5-6 Nerve Root: C6: Description: Pain is located in the neck, shoulder, medial border of the scapula, lateral arm, dorsal forearm. Sensory changes are noted in the thumb and index finger. Motor deficits and reflex changes are noted in the Biceps.

C6-7 Nerve root: C7: Description: Pain is located at the neck, shoulder, medial border of the scapula, lateral arm, dorsal forearm. Sensory changes are noted at the index and middle finger. Motor and reflex deficits are noted in the triceps.

C7-T1 Nerve Root: C8: Description: Pain noted in neck, medial border of scapula, medial aspect of the arm and forearm. Sensory changes are noted in the ring and little fingers. Motor deficits are noted in the intrinsic muscles of the hands. No reflex changes are noted at this level.