Third cervical vertebra: anatomy, location and function

Also called

C3

What it is

The third of the seven cervical (neck) vertebrae, labelled C3.

Location

Lies in the middle of the cervical spine below the axis (C2) and above C4.

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

FMA12521 (Foundational Model of Anatomy)

Key facts

• Typical cervical vertebra with a small body, a triangular vertebral foramen and a transverse foramen in each transverse process.
• The hyoid bone lies at about the level of C3.
• Its upper body carries raised uncinate processes that form uncovertebral joints with C2; these are found on C3–C7.
• Cervical spinal nerves exit above the vertebra of the same number, so the C3 nerve leaves between C2 and C3, and C4 leaves below it.

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

• Posterior cervical intertransversarii · muscular
• Fourth cervical vertebra · skeletal
• Intervertebral disk of third cervical vertebra · skeletal
• Anterior cervical intertransversarii · muscular
• Intervertebral disk of axis · skeletal
• Cervical rotator · muscular
• Superior oblique part of longus colli · muscular
• Axis · skeletal
• Fifth cervical vertebra · skeletal
• Intervertebral disk of fourth cervical vertebra · skeletal