AFAA Personal Trainer Certification Practice Exam 2025 – All-in-One Guide to Master Your Certification!

The cervical spine consists of the first seven vertebrae in the human spine, labeled C1 through C7. This region is located at the top of the vertebral column, just below the skull, and plays a crucial role in supporting the head, facilitating its movement, and protecting the spinal cord. The cervical vertebrae are structured to allow a range of motion, including flexion, extension, rotation, and lateral bending. This mobility is essential for various daily activities and movements. Understanding the organization of the spine is vital for personal trainers when considering exercise programming, injury prevention, and rehabilitation-related to the neck and upper back regions.

In this context, the thoracic spine is located below the cervical spine and consists of twelve vertebrae, while the lumbar spine has five vertebrae situated below the thoracic spine. The thoracolumbar area refers to both the thoracic and lumbar regions combined, so it does not represent a specific set of vertebrae but rather an aggregate of two distinct spinal regions.