Main Campus: Chesterfield, MO 63017 | 
Neck x-ray
X-ray - neck; Cervical spine x-ray; Lateral neck x-ray
A neck x-ray is an imaging test to look at cervical vertebrae. These are the 7 bones of the spine in the neck.
How the Test is Performed
This test is done in a hospital radiology department. It may also be done in the health care provider's office by an x-ray technologist.
You will lie on the x-ray table.
You will be asked to change positions so that more images can be taken. Usually 2, or up to 7 different images may be needed.
How to Prepare for the Test
Tell the health care provider if you are or think you may be pregnant. Remove all jewelry.
How the Test will Feel
When the x-rays are taken, there is no discomfort. If the x-rays are done to check for injury, there may be discomfort as your neck is being positioned. Care will be taken to prevent further injury.
Why the Test is Performed
The x-ray is used to evaluate neck injuries and numbness, pain, or weakness that does not go away. A neck x-ray can also be used to help see if air passages are blocked by swelling in the neck or something stuck in the airway.
Other tests, such as MRI , may be used to look for disk or nerve problems.
MRI
A cervical MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan uses energy from strong magnets to create pictures of the part of the spine that runs through the ne...
What Abnormal Results Mean
A neck x-ray can detect:
- Bone joint that is out of position (dislocation)
-
Breathing in a foreign object
Breathing in a foreign object
If you breathe a foreign object into your nose, mouth, or respiratory tract, it may become stuck and cause breathing problems or choking. It can als...
ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article - Broken bone (fracture)
- Disk problems (disks are the cushion-like tissue that separate the vertebrae)
- Extra bone growths (bone spurs) on the neck bones (for example, due to osteoarthritis)
- Infection that causes swelling of the vocal cords (croup)
- Inflammation of the tissue that covers the windpipe (epiglottitis)
-
Problem with the curve of the upper spine, such as
kyphosis
Kyphosis
Kyphosis is a curving of the spine that causes a bowing or rounding of the back. This leads to a hunchback or slouching posture.
ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article -
Thinning of the bone (
osteoporosis
)
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a disease in which bones become fragile and more likely to break (fracture).
ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article - Wearing away of the neck vertebrae or cartilage
Risks
There is low radiation exposure. X-rays are monitored so that the lowest amount of radiation is used to produce the image.
Pregnant women and children are more sensitive to the risks of x-rays.
References
Roosevelt GE. Acute inflammatory upper airway obstruction (croup, epiglottitis, laryngitis, and bacterial tracheitis). In: Kliegman RM, Stanton BF, St. Geme JW, Schor NF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics . 20th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2016:chap 385.
Van Thielen T, van den Hauwe L, Van Goethem JW, Parizel PM. Imaging techniques and anatomy. In: Adam A, Dixon AK, Gillard JH, Schaefer-Prokop CM, eds. Grainger & Allison's Diagnostic Radiology: A Textbook of Medical Imaging . 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Churchill-Livingstone: 2015;chap 54.
-
Skeletal spine - illustration
The spine is divided into several sections. The cervical vertebrae make up the neck. The thoracic vertebrae comprise the chest section and have ribs attached. The lumbar vertebrae are the remaining vertebrae below the last thoracic bone and the top of the sacrum. The sacral vertebrae are caged within the bones of the pelvis, and the coccyx represents the terminal vertebrae or vestigial tail.
Skeletal spine
illustration
-
Vertebra, cervical (neck) - illustration
These are the seven bones of the neck, called the cervical vertebra. The top bone, seen on the right of this picture, is called the atlas, and is where the head attaches to the neck. The second bone is called the axis, upon which the head and atlas rotate. The vertebra are numbered from one to seven from the atlas down, and are referred to as C1, C2, C3, etc.
Vertebra, cervical (neck)
illustration
-
Cervical vertebrae - illustration
There are seven cervical vertebrae which are located in the neck. They are the smallest, and lightest vertebrae of the vertebral column.
Cervical vertebrae
illustration
-
Skeletal spine - illustration
The spine is divided into several sections. The cervical vertebrae make up the neck. The thoracic vertebrae comprise the chest section and have ribs attached. The lumbar vertebrae are the remaining vertebrae below the last thoracic bone and the top of the sacrum. The sacral vertebrae are caged within the bones of the pelvis, and the coccyx represents the terminal vertebrae or vestigial tail.
Skeletal spine
illustration
-
Vertebra, cervical (neck) - illustration
These are the seven bones of the neck, called the cervical vertebra. The top bone, seen on the right of this picture, is called the atlas, and is where the head attaches to the neck. The second bone is called the axis, upon which the head and atlas rotate. The vertebra are numbered from one to seven from the atlas down, and are referred to as C1, C2, C3, etc.
Vertebra, cervical (neck)
illustration
-
Cervical vertebrae - illustration
There are seven cervical vertebrae which are located in the neck. They are the smallest, and lightest vertebrae of the vertebral column.
Cervical vertebrae
illustration
Review Date: 8/14/2015
Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director and Director of Didactic Curriculum, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, Department of Family Medicine, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
