Root C4. Neck stiffness, pain to the top of the shoulder. Breathing muscle involvement is rare but is why this level is treated with respect.
Spine Map
Tap a disc level to see the nerve root, where it travels, common findings, and region red flags.
Educational only. This map explains patterns doctors commonly describe. It is not a diagnosis, and it does not replace a review of your own MRI by a physician.
Select a disc level on the map.
C3-C4
- Where the nerve travels
- Toward the top of the shoulder and the upper neck area.
- What it moves and feels, and commonly reported findings
- Neck stiffness, pain to the top of the shoulder. Breathing muscle involvement is rare but is why this level is treated with respect.
- Region red flags
- Hand clumsiness, dropping objects, unsteady walking, or stiffness in both legs can signal cord pressure and need prompt review.
C4-C5
- Where the nerve travels
- Into the outer upper arm and the shoulder.
- What it moves and feels, and commonly reported findings
- Pain or weakness lifting the arm to the side (deltoid), numbness over the outer upper arm.
- Region red flags
- Hand clumsiness, dropping objects, unsteady walking, or stiffness in both legs can signal cord pressure and need prompt review.
C5-C6
- Where the nerve travels
- Into the thumb and index finger path.
- What it moves and feels, and commonly reported findings
- Pain or tingling into the thumb and index finger, weaker wrist lift. One of the two most commonly reported cervical levels.
- Region red flags
- Hand clumsiness, dropping objects, unsteady walking, or stiffness in both legs can signal cord pressure and need prompt review.
C6-C7
- Where the nerve travels
- Toward the middle finger path.
- What it moves and feels, and commonly reported findings
- Tingling into the middle finger, weaker arm straightening (triceps). The other most commonly reported cervical level.
- Region red flags
- Hand clumsiness, dropping objects, unsteady walking, or stiffness in both legs can signal cord pressure and need prompt review.
C7-T1
- Where the nerve travels
- Into the ring and little fingers and the grip.
- What it moves and feels, and commonly reported findings
- Tingling into the ring and little fingers, weaker grip.
- Region red flags
- Hand clumsiness, dropping objects, unsteady walking, or stiffness in both legs can signal cord pressure and need prompt review.
T1-T12
- Where the nerve travels
- Often in a band around the chest or belly.
- What it moves and feels, and commonly reported findings
- Pain that wraps around the chest or belly in a band, often mistaken for other organs; herniations here are uncommon.
- Region red flags
- New band like chest or belly pain with weakness, fever, or trauma history needs prompt clinical review.
L1-L2 / L2-L3
- Where the nerve travels
- Into the groin, hip, and front of the thigh.
- What it moves and feels, and commonly reported findings
- Pain in the groin, hip, and front of the thigh; weaker hip bending.
- Region red flags
- Loss of bladder or bowel control, or numbness in the saddle area, is an emergency (see Map 5).
L3-L4
- Where the nerve travels
- Down the front of the thigh into the inner shin.
- What it moves and feels, and commonly reported findings
- Pain or numbness down the front of the thigh into the inner shin, weaker knee straightening, a knee reflex that can fade.
- Region red flags
- Loss of bladder or bowel control, or numbness in the saddle area, is an emergency (see Map 5).
L4-L5
- Where the nerve travels
- Down the outer calf to the top of the foot and big toe.
- What it moves and feels, and commonly reported findings
- Pain down the outer calf to the top of the foot and big toe, weaker big toe lift and foot lift. The most commonly reported lumbar level together with L5-S1.
- Region red flags
- Loss of bladder or bowel control, or numbness in the saddle area, is an emergency (see Map 5).
L5-S1
- Where the nerve travels
- Down the back of the calf into the outer foot and sole.
- What it moves and feels, and commonly reported findings
- Pain down the back of the calf into the outer foot and sole, weaker push off when walking, an ankle reflex that can fade.
- Region red flags
- Loss of bladder or bowel control, or numbness in the saddle area, is an emergency (see Map 5).
Root C5. Pain or weakness lifting the arm to the side (deltoid), numbness over the outer upper arm.
Root C6. Pain or tingling into the thumb and index finger, weaker wrist lift. One of the two most commonly reported cervical levels.
Root C7. Tingling into the middle finger, weaker arm straightening (triceps). The other most commonly reported cervical level.
Root C8. Tingling into the ring and little fingers, weaker grip.
Root T roots. Pain that wraps around the chest or belly in a band, often mistaken for other organs; herniations here are uncommon.
Root L1 to L3. Pain in the groin, hip, and front of the thigh; weaker hip bending.
Root L4. Pain or numbness down the front of the thigh into the inner shin, weaker knee straightening, a knee reflex that can fade.
Root L5. Pain down the outer calf to the top of the foot and big toe, weaker big toe lift and foot lift. The most commonly reported lumbar level together with L5-S1.
Root S1. Pain down the back of the calf into the outer foot and sole, weaker push off when walking, an ankle reflex that can fade.