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.
