Neck

The neck connects the head of a living creature to the rest of the body. It can be very long and narrow, as in a giraffe, or rather short, as in a dog or cat. The back of the neck, which merges with the back, is called the nape.

The neck is one of the most sensitive parts of the body. The spinal cord is located in the spine of the neck. It is through this nerve cord that information is sent from the brain to the body and back again. If the spinal cord in the neck is injured, this flow of information can be interrupted. This can lead to paralysis or even immediate death.

In addition to the spinal cord, the trachea and oesophagus run through the neck. Oxygen is breathed in through the trachea and carbon dioxide is exhaled. Food is transported to the stomach through the oesophagus. At the front of the neck are important veins that supply the head and thus also the brain with fresh blood. There are also many muscles in the neck. With their help, you can, for example, swallow food or move your neck in different directions.

In men, the so-called Adam's apple forms on the neck during puberty. This is a piece of cartilage that belongs to the larynx and protrudes clearly. Of course, women also have this. But you can't see and feel it as well as you can with men.

Some instruments also have a neck. These include, for example, the guitar, the harp, the bassoon and string instruments.