
The vertebrae are the bones of the spine. Discs between the vertebrae support and cushion these bones. The spinal cord runs through the vertebrae and carries messages back and forth between the brain and the rest of the body.
The front of the neck contains the esophagus, which carries food and liquid to the stomach, and the trachea, which carries air to the lungs.
| By | Healthwise Staff |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | William H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Robert B. Keller, MD - Orthopedics |
| Last Revised | July 30, 2012 |