Cervical spinal cord

What it is

The cervical spinal cord is the portion of the spinal cord located in the neck (cervical) region. It supplies the arms and hands and contributes to breathing, and it is the most common location of a syrinx in Chiari malformation.

Understanding Cervical spinal cord

Because Chiari malformation involves disrupted CSF flow at the craniocervical junction (the top of the spinal canal), an associated syrinx most often forms in the nearby cervical spinal cord, commonly around the C4 to C6 levels. A syrinx here can affect the nerves supplying the arms and hands, producing symptoms such as numbness, altered pain and temperature sensation in a "cape-like" distribution over the shoulders and arms, hand weakness, and muscle wasting in the hands. Because the cervical cord also contributes to breathing (via nerves to the diaphragm), extensive involvement can have broader effects. Understanding the cervical spinal cord clarifies why Chiari-related syrinx symptoms often involve the upper limbs.

Why it matters

Understanding the cervical spinal cord helps families see why Chiari-related syrinx symptoms often affect the hands and arms, since the syrinx most commonly forms in this neck region of the cord.