C7 — seventh cervical vertebra (Vertebra cervicalis septima)
Educational content only — not medical advice.
Anatomy
C7, the seventh of seven cervical vertebrae: a small saddle-like body, a large vertebral foramen, and a transverse process whose small foramen carries only the vertebral vein. Called the vertebra prominens: its long, un-bifid spinous process is easily felt at the base of the neck and serves as the clinical landmark for counting vertebrae.
Clinical notes
Disc herniation at C7–C8 compresses the C8 nerve root, causing arm pain in a characteristic dermatome and weakness pattern.
Related structures
Educational references
FAQ
What is the role of the C7 — seventh cervical vertebra?
C7, the seventh of seven cervical vertebrae: a small saddle-like body, a large vertebral foramen, and a transverse process whose small foramen carries only the vertebral vein. Called the vertebra prominens: its long, un-bifid spinous process is easily felt at the base of the neck and serves as the clinical landmark for counting vertebrae.
Why is the C7 — seventh cervical vertebra clinically important?
Disc herniation at C7–C8 compresses the C8 nerve root, causing arm pain in a characteristic dermatome and weakness pattern.
Source & license
Derived from Z-Anatomy (Gauthier Kervyn et al.), CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/); upstream geometry from BodyParts3D, © The Database Center for Life Science. license details