In human body, what is the number of cervical vertebrae?

The human vertebral column is divided into five distinct regions, with the cervical region located in the neck. There are exactly seven cervical vertebrae in the human body, typically designated as C1 through C7 [t1][t5]. The first two vertebrae, the atlas (C1) and the axis (C2), are specialized to support the skull and facilitate head rotation [t5][t8]. The remaining five subaxial vertebrae (C3-C7) share similar structural features, such as transverse foramina for the passage of vertebral arteries and often bifid spinous processes [t1][t8]. This count of seven cervical vertebrae is a highly conserved anatomical trait across almost all mammals, regardless of their neck length [t6]. In contrast, the human spine contains 12 thoracic vertebrae and 5 lumbar vertebrae [t4][t6].

Sources

1. [1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK539734/