Editing Peripheral nervous system (section)

====Cervical spinal nerves (C1–C4)====
{{Further|Cervical plexus}}
The first 4 cervical spinal nerves, C1 through C4, split and recombine to produce a variety of nerves that serve the neck and back of head.

Spinal nerve C1 is called the [[suboccipital nerve]], which provides motor innervation to muscles at the base of the [[skull]].
C2 and C3 form many of the nerves of the neck, providing both sensory and motor control. These include the [[greater occipital nerve]], which provides sensation to the back of the head, the [[lesser occipital nerve]], which provides sensation to the area behind the [[ear]]s, the [[greater auricular nerve]] and the [[lesser auricular nerve]].

The [[phrenic nerve]] is a nerve essential for our survival which arises from nerve roots C3, C4 and C5. It supplies the [[thoracic diaphragm]], enabling [[breathing]]. If the spinal cord is transected above C3, then spontaneous breathing is not possible.{{citation needed|date=May 2020}}