Cervical Vertebral Levels

Learn important landmarks and structures found at various cervical vertebral levels. 

				Pharynx			Soft Palate	C1
						Superior cervical ganglion		C2
	Hyoid Bone				Bifurcation of CCA			C3
	Thyroid cartilage		Larynx					C4
		Thyroid gland						C5
EJV crosses SCM	Cricoid cartilage				Inferior laryngeal nerve enters the larynx	Middle cervical ganglion behind inferior thyroid artery	Vertebral artery enters transverse foramen of C6	C6
	Isthmus of thyroid gland		Trachea	Esophagus		Inferior cervical ganglion		C7
	Sterno-clavicular joint							T1
	Jugular notch							T2

CCA – common carotid artery;         EJV – external jugular vein;   SCM – sternocleidomastoid

Hyoid bone     C3

Thyroid cartilage        C4-C5

Cricoid cartilage         C6 (lower border of C6, sometimes C6-C7)

Bifurcation of Common Carotid       C3-C4

Pharynx          C1-C6

Larynx (in adults)       C4-C6

Point at which the EJV crosses the posterior border of the SCM muscle    C6

Pharynx becomes Esophagus     C6 (lower border of C6)

Larynx becomes Trachea          C6 (lower border of C6)

Thyroid gland             C5-T1

Isthmus of Thyroid gland      C7

Superior cervical ganglion (largest)   C2-C3

Middle cervical ganglion behind (smallest, sometimes absent)        C6

Inferior cervical ganglion       C7 (lower border of C7)