Fourth cervical vertebra: anatomy, location and function

Also called

C4

What it is

The fourth of the seven cervical (neck) vertebrae, labelled C4.

Location

Lies in the middle of the cervical spine between C3 and C5.

Function

Supports the head and allows neck movement, while its vertebral foramen protects the spinal cord and its transverse foramen carries the vertebral artery.

Body system

Skeletal · single, midline structure

FMA ID

FMA12522 (Foundational Model of Anatomy)

Key facts

• Typical cervical vertebra with a short, usually bifid spinous process.
• The superior border of the thyroid cartilage lies at about the level of C4.
• Cervical spinal nerves exit above the vertebra of the same number, so the C4 nerve leaves between C3 and C4, and C5 leaves below it.
• The common carotid artery usually divides into internal and external carotid arteries at about the C4 level.

The nearest named structures in the 3D model, measured from the centre of each part:

• Posterior cervical intertransversarii · muscular
• Fifth cervical vertebra · skeletal
• Third cervical vertebra · skeletal
• Anterior cervical intertransversarii · muscular
• Cervical rotator · muscular
• Intervertebral disk of fourth cervical vertebra · skeletal
• Intervertebral disk of third cervical vertebra · skeletal
• Vertical intermediate part of longus colli · muscular
• Sixth cervical vertebra · skeletal
• Interspinales cervicis · muscular