Cervical enlargement

The cervical enlargement corresponds with the attachments of the large nerves which supply the upper limbs.Located just above the brachial plexus, it extends from about the fifth cervical to the first thoracic vertebra, its maximum circumference (about 38 mm.)The reason behind the enlargement of the cervical region is because of the increased neural input and output to the upper limbs.An analogous region in the lower limbs occurs at the lumbar enlargement.This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 752 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)
Anatomical terminologyupper limbsbrachial plexuscervicalthoracic vertebracervical nerveslumbar enlargementpublic domainGray's AnatomySpinal cordConus medullarisFilum terminaleCauda equinaMeningesCentral canalTerminal ventricleGrey columnsPosterior grey columnMarginal nucleusSubstantia gelatinosa of RolandoNucleus propriusRexed lamina VRexed lamina VILateral grey columnIntermediolateral nucleusPosterior thoracic nucleusAnterior grey columnInterneuronAlpha motor neuronOnuf's nucleusGamma motor neuronRexed laminaeCentral gelatinous substanceGray commissureWhite matterPosteriorPosterior column-medial lemniscus pathwayGracileCuneateLateralSpinocerebellardorsalventralSpinothalamicanteriorPosterolateralSpinotectalSpinoreticular tractSpino-olivary tractCorticospinalExtrapyramidalRubrospinalRaphespinalHypothalamospinalVestibulospinalTectospinalOlivospinalAnterior white commissureAnterior median fissureAnterolateral sulcusPosterior median sulcusPosterolateral sulcusneuroscience