Neck stiffness, stiff neck and nuchal rigidity are terms often used interchangeably to describe the medical condition when one experiences discomfort or pain when trying to turn, move, or flex the

neck The neck is the part of the body on many vertebrates that connects the head with the torso. The neck supports the weight of the head and protects the nerves that carry sensory and motor information from the brain down to the rest of the body. In ...

. Possible causes include

muscle strain A strain is an acute or chronic soft tissue injury that occurs to a muscle, tendon, or both. The equivalent injury to a ligament is a sprain. Generally, the muscle or tendon overstretches and partially tears, under more physical stress th ...

sprain A sprain, also known as a torn ligament, is an acute soft tissue injury of the ligaments within a joint, often caused by a sudden movement abruptly forcing the joint to exceed its functional range of motion. Ligaments are tough, inelastic fibers ...

cervical spine disorders Cervical spine disorders are illnesses that affect the Cervical vertebrae, cervical spine, which is made up of the upper first seven Vertebrate, vertebrae, encasing and shielding the spinal cord. This fragment of the spine starts from the region a ...

meningitis Meningitis is acute or chronic inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, collectively called the meninges. The most common symptoms are fever, headache, and neck stiffness. Other symptoms include confusion or ...

, and subarachnoid hemorrhage. Nuchal rigidity due to irritation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord is one of the main symptoms of meningitis.

References

Human head and neck {{Med-sign-stub

See also

References