# cervical

/ˈsɝvəkəɫ/ (US) · /sˈɜːvɪkəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/cervical
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. relating to the neck

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

relating to the neck, especially the bones that make up the spine in your neck.

For teachers: pertaining to the neck or the seven vertebrae that form the upper portion of the spinal column.

- He had to wear a special collar after injuring his cervical spine in the accident.
- The patient reported persistent numbness in her fingers, suggesting a possible compression of the nerves in the cervical region of the spine.

Usage: Usually placed before the noun it modifies, such as 'cervical vertebrae' or 'cervical spine'.

### 2. relating to the cervix

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

relating to the cervix, which is the narrow lower part of the womb in a woman's body.

For teachers: pertaining to the cervix uteri, the neck-like opening of the uterus.

- Regular cervical screenings are important for maintaining women's health.
- The clinical trial focused on the efficacy of the new vaccine in preventing cervical cancer among high-risk populations.

Usage: Commonly found in medical collocations like 'cervical cancer' or 'cervical screening'.

### 3. a neck bone

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a short way of saying 'cervical vertebra', which is one of the bones in your neck.

For teachers: a shortened form of 'cervical vertebra', referring to any of the seven segments of the spinal column in the neck.

- The X-ray showed a small fracture on the third cervical.
- The surgeon carefully examined the alignment of the fifth and sixth cervicals before proceeding with the spinal fusion.

Teaching tip: This noun use is highly specialised and mostly used by medical professionals in clinical settings.

## Examples

- The doctor checked her cervical spine.
- She visited the clinic for a routine cervical cancer screening.
- The surgeon carefully examined the cervical region to ensure no nerves were damaged during the procedure.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.