CLINIC
YOUR EXPERT
Laurence Plant is specialist chiropractor and clinic manager at Henley Practice (henleypractice. com), a multi-discipline sports injury clinic based in Henley-On-Thames. He is also the Meglio physiotherapy and fi tness expert (mymeglio.com).
Anatomy
One of the main functions of the neck is to act as a pipeline for the nerves and vessels between your head and the rest of the body. The neck itself plays a crucial role in supporting your head and consists of seven vertebra which hold the skull in position.
The neck itself can be grouped into four compartments: vertebral, visceral and two vascular compartments. Protection is provided to the neck and its mobility is ensured by the vertebrae and the surrounding muscles. Central to the neck is the spinal cord, where nerves exit at each level and travel further down into the rest of the body. The nerves that exit the neck from the side form the brachial plexus and travel down under the clavicle to your shoulders and arms.