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Intervertebral disk of third cervical vertebra: anatomy, location and function

The intervertebral disc between C3 and C4 (the C3–C4 disc), a fibrocartilage pad with a gel-like nucleus pulposus inside a ring-like anulus fibrosus. Absorbs compressive loads, acts as a shock absorber and allows slight movement between vertebrae.

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Highlighted in the model: Intervertebral disk of third cervical vertebra. Click any part to read about it, or switch off “Highlight topic” to see the whole body. 3D data: BodyParts3D, © The Database Center for Life Science, CC BY 4.0; meshes simplified and recoloured. The model is an adult male.

Intervertebral disk of third cervical vertebra at a glance

What it is
The intervertebral disc between C3 and C4 (the C3–C4 disc), a fibrocartilage pad with a gel-like nucleus pulposus inside a ring-like anulus fibrosus.
Location
Between the bodies of C3 and C4, the disc directly below the named vertebra (the C3/C4 disc).
Function
Absorbs compressive loads, acts as a shock absorber and allows slight movement between vertebrae.
Body system
Skeletal · single, midline structure
FMA ID
FMA13896 (Foundational Model of Anatomy)

Key facts

  • The C4 spinal nerve exits at this level; C3–C5 roots together form the phrenic nerve to the diaphragm.
  • Cervical discs are thicker in front than behind, which helps create the cervical lordosis; uncovertebral joints (of Luschka) flank the cervical discs from C2–C3 to C6–C7.

Clinical relevance

Herniation occurs when the nucleus pulposus pushes through a tear in the annulus. A posterolateral herniation here usually compresses the C4 nerve root.

Structures next to the intervertebral disk of third cervical vertebra

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

References

  1. Foundational Model of Anatomy: Intervertebral disk of third cervical vertebra (FMA13896). EMBL-EBI Ontology Lookup Service.
  2. OpenStax. Anatomy and Physiology 2e, §7.1 Divisions of the Skeletal System. Rice University, 2022.
  3. Mitsuhashi N. et al. (2009). BodyParts3D: 3D structure database for anatomical concepts. Nucleic Acids Research 37, D782–D785. Data © The Database Center for Life Science, CC BY 4.0.

Related anatomy

Explore the whole body in the interactive 3D human anatomy model, or browse the A–Z list of human structures.