Question

Cervical vertebrae are located in
A. Thoracic region
B. Abdominal region
C. Neck region
D. Lumbar region

Answer 1

Hint: In all mammals including human beings the first seven vertebrae of the vertebral column constitute the cervical vertebrae. These are small sized vertebrae.

Complete answer:
There are a total of seven cervical vertebrae present in the body and these are present in the Neck region.
The first vertebra is called atlas and the second is called axis. 1, 2, 7 are atypical vertebrae and 3, 4, 5 and 6 are typical vertebrae. The atlas supports the head and consists of a complete ring of bone. The atlanto-occipital joint is a joint formed by the articulation of atlas and condyles of the occipital bone and by this joint nodding movement of the head. The atlas articulates with the axis.
The second cervical vertebrae is the pivot on which atlas turns in the rotary movements of the head. From the body of the axis a process of bone rises which is called an odontoid peg which articulates with the back of the anterior arch of the atlas. The atlas moves round the odontoid peg of the axis, forming a pivot joint at which the head rotates.
The seventh cervical vertebrae are the first vertebrae with an undivided spinous process and have a tubercle at its tip. It forms a distinct projection in the neck. It can be seen at the lower part of the back of the neck. Due to this ability the bone called the vertebra prominens.

VERTEBRAE TYPE	EMBRYONIC STAGE	ADULT
Cervical	7	7
Thoracic	12	12
Lumbar	5	5
Sacral	5	1
Coccyx	4	1

Note: There are two types of skeletal in human- axial and appendicular skeleton. The only bone in our body which does not articulate with any other bone is hyoid bone.