Pain in the neck. Illustration of the cervical vertebrae - the bones of the neck - showing causes of neck pain. A tumour of the spinal cord (red) is shown in the second vertebra and a tumour of the vertebral body (blue) on the third vertebra. A slipped disc (purple) appears between the fifth and sixth vertebrae and a tumour of a nerve root (green) on the sixth vertebra. Just under this is an osteophyte, a bony projection caused by osteoarthritis. A cervical rib appears on the right side of the seventh vertebra. The sternum appears in the lower centre, with ribs and collar bones attached. Nerves are coloured yellow.