neck
Enable an agent to recognise an anatomical neck, record its structure and functional state, and determine which observations or actions require species-specific knowledge or qualified assessment.
Bundle → Layer → Finding → Questions Filled
6 bundles · 11 layers · 17 findings · 31 questions
Anatomical identity and boundaries Establishes which anatomical neck is being described and where the region begins and ends.
Organism and sense
Anchors the term to an individual animal and an anatomical interpretation.
Neck applicability
Record the evidence that this organism has a region appropriately described as a neck.
- Which individual and species does this neck belong to? provenance
- Which anatomical reference supports calling this head-to-trunk region a neck? definition
Regional delimitation
Defines interfaces with the head, trunk and shoulder region.
Neck landmarks
Specify the landmarks and convention used to assign structures and observations to the neck.
- Which landmarks define the upper and lower limits of this neck? boundary
- How are observations near the jaw, shoulders or trunk assigned to one region rather than another? boundary
Regional structure and form Describes the neck's supporting anatomy, tissue arrangement and external dimensions.
Supporting anatomy
Records identified supporting structures and their regional relationships.
Structural composition
Link verified skeletal, muscular and other supporting structures without assuming a human arrangement.
- Which structures are identified as supporting the head within this neck? definition
- Which identifications come from direct observation, imaging or a species reference? provenance
External form
Records neck dimensions, contour and visible asymmetry under specified conditions.
Reproducible neck dimensions
Treat dimensions as measurements tied to landmarks, posture and method.
- Between which landmarks and in which posture was neck length measured? measurement
- At which level and under which contact conditions was circumference measured? measurement
- Which contour differences are visible, and which remain uncertain because of covering or positioning? measurement
Head support and movement Captures how the neck positions and moves the head relative to the trunk.
Posture and support
Describes head orientation and the circumstances maintaining it.
Head-to-trunk configuration
Record posture together with external support and observation context.
- What is the head's orientation relative to the trunk in the recorded posture? measurement
- Is the posture maintained independently or influenced by a surface, support or contacting item? boundary
Movement observation
Records movement direction, extent and conditions without assuming a universal normal range.
Neck movement profile
Distinguish neck movement from trunk compensation and preserve the method of observation.
- Which movements were observed, through what extent, and were they spontaneous, active on request or passively assessed? measurement
- How was movement of the trunk distinguished from movement occurring through the neck? boundary
- What reported discomfort or observed difficulty limited the observation? action
Passageways and system interfaces Maps structures that pass through the neck and connect it to wider body systems.
Airway and digestive interfaces
Locates identified airway and digestive segments relative to the neck.
Regional passageway mapping
Record which passageway segments traverse the region and separate location from demonstrated function.
- Which airway and digestive structures are verified within the neck of this species? provenance
- Where do those regional segments connect to structures owned by head or trunk models? boundary
- What observations support any recorded breathing or swallowing difficulty, and what remains unassessed? measurement
Vascular and neural interfaces
Links identified vessels and neural structures to their wider systems.
Regional system continuity
Represent anatomical continuity without inferring vessel or nerve condition from external appearance.
- Which vessels and neural structures have been identified within or across the neck boundaries? provenance
- Which claims concern regional anatomy, and which require assessment in a vascular or nervous-system model? boundary
Condition and interaction Records regional changes and the context needed to judge proposed examination or external contact.
Regional condition
Captures visible, reported or professionally assessed changes without conflating them.
Neck condition record
Locate and timestamp observations such as swelling, skin change, discomfort or asymmetry.
- Where on the neck is the change located, when was it first recorded, and how has it changed? measurement
- Was the finding self-reported, externally observed or established by a qualified assessment? provenance
Contact and action constraints
Describes items touching the neck and the basis for deciding whether an interaction is appropriate.
Neck interaction context
Record the location and purpose of contact together with relevant restrictions and missing information.
- What item or support contacts the neck, at which location, and with what observed effect on movement or comfort? measurement
- Which established restrictions apply to the proposed examination, handling or equipment adjustment? action
- What missing information requires qualified assessment before the proposed interaction can be judged appropriate? action
Evidence and external alignment What the world already says about this thing, gathered so the model can be checked against it.
Reported evidence
Findings from the breadth pass, kept separate from the structural claims.
Check these first
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- Which of these check these first hold for the sense of neck this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Identifiers and schemes
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- Which of these identifiers and schemes hold for the sense of neck this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Standards and regulation
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- Which of these standards and regulation hold for the sense of neck this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Real-world use
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- Which of these real-world use hold for the sense of neck this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Typical measurements
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- Which of these typical measurements hold for the sense of neck this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Failure modes and hazards
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- Which of these failure modes and hazards hold for the sense of neck this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Neighbouring kinds and how to tell them apart
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- Which of these neighbouring kinds and how to tell them apart hold for the sense of neck this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Classifiers Filled
- Family
- Thing Registry
- Category
- Physical world and living systems
- Entry kind
- thing
- Plane
- PHY
- Domain
- PHY.OBJ
- Other names and narrower kinds
- horse neck, human neck, bustard neck, calf's neck, capon neck, chicken neck, goose neck, partridge neck, pig neck, poultry neck
What it is Filled
The neck is the anatomical region connecting the head to the trunk in humans and other animals with a distinct cervical region, supporting head movement and containing structures that pass between the head and body.
In scope
- Identification of the individual organism, species and anatomical neck region
- External landmarks and boundaries with the head, shoulder region and trunk
- Regional arrangement of supporting, muscular and soft-tissue structures
- Head support and movement relative to the trunk
- Continuity of airway, digestive, vascular and neural structures through the region
- Observed regional condition and constraints on examination, handling or contact
Out of scope
- The organism's complete anatomy, taxonomy or conservation status
- The head, shoulder girdle and thorax except at their interfaces with the neck
- Complete models of the spine, airway, digestive tract or circulatory and nervous systems
- Disease diagnosis, treatment protocols and procedural instruction
- Necks of bottles, instruments, garments or other non-anatomical objects
- A taxon or species treated as though it were an individual body region
Why it exists Filled
Enable an agent to recognise an anatomical neck, record its structure and functional state, and determine which observations or actions require species-specific knowledge or qualified assessment.
Distinguishing features Filled
- The referent is a region of a living or formerly living animal body, rather than a narrowed part of an artefact.
- Its location is established between the head and trunk using landmarks appropriate to the organism.
- The term identifies a regional assembly of tissues and structures, rather than only the cervical spine or a single passageway.
- The throat denotes a more restricted region or set of structures; it does not automatically identify the entire neck.
- An externally indistinct head-to-trunk transition requires an explicit anatomical convention before being labelled a neck.
What robots and AI may and may not do Filled
Must not
- Move a person with a possible neck injury unless they are in immediate danger.
- Apply pressure or restraint to a person's neck.
- Diagnose neck pain or lumps in a specific person.
- Advise neck manipulation without a qualified practitioner.
Only with a human decision
- Moving an injured person in an emergency.
May
- Explain the neck's anatomy and functions in humans and animals from reliable sources.
- Advise urgent care after neck injury and keeping the person still.
Moral aspects Filled
- Neck injuries and restraint can kill or paralyse.
- Neck restraints in policing have caused deaths.
Who is affected
- Injured people
- People under restraint
- Patients
Owners Filled
Steward
Nobody owns the anatomical region in general; each person owns their own body.
Links to other meta-models Filled
parent
- Q112826975 - registry parent class
- Q66596064 - registry parent class
What else AI and robots need to interact with it Filled
Identity and identifiers required Filled
- Vercy registry: vr.tr.neck
- Wikidata: Q9633 (https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q9633)
Direct properties required Filled
- Organism and anatomical applicability: Individual organism identifier, species identification and applicable anatomical reference
- Regional boundaries: Named superior, inferior and circumferential landmarks under a stated convention
- Neck length: mm or cm between specified landmarks, with posture and method recorded
- Neck circumference: mm or cm at a stated level, with posture and measurement conditions recorded
- Head-to-trunk posture: Observed orientation, support condition and reference posture
- Movement extent: Degrees by specified movement and reference frame; active or passive method identified
- Regional structural membership: Identified structures linked as contained within, traversing or bordering the neck
- Observed regional condition: Reported or observed pain, swelling, skin change, asymmetry or movement difficulty; absent, present or unknown
- External contact: Contacting item or support, location, fit, duration and known restrictions
Recognition required Filled
- The neck occupies the continuous body region between the head and trunk rather than forming part of a limb.
- In humans its visible boundaries extend from the lower jaw and skull base to the shoulders and upper chest.
- Its external length and contour vary widely among species, and some animals have little externally visible separation between head and trunk.
Capabilities and actions required Filled
- Locate and annotate the neck using a species-appropriate anatomical convention.
- Record dimensions and posture with reproducible landmarks and methods.
- Describe observed head-to-trunk movement without imposing unverified normal ranges.
- Link regional observations to the relevant anatomical structures and neighbouring system models.
- Compare regional condition over time while preserving differences in observation method.
- Identify when proposed contact, handling or examination lacks the information or qualified assessment needed to proceed.
Hazards and failure modes required Filled
- Neck trauma can damage the cervical spine or spinal cord and cause lasting neurological impairment.
- Compression or swelling can compromise the airway or blood flow to the brain.
- Injury to structures involved in swallowing can lead to swallowing difficulty and aspiration.
Standards and interfaces required Filled
- Terminologia Anatomica, issued by the Federative International Programme for Anatomical Terminology of the International Federation of Associations of Anatomists, standardizes names for the human neck and its anatomical regions.
Context of use required Filled
- The neck connects the head to the trunk and supports head positioning and movement in animals with a distinct cervical region.
- It contains pathways for breathing, swallowing, circulation and neural communication between the head and body.
- Its anatomy is relevant to clinical examination, veterinary assessment, ergonomic support and the fit of wearable equipment.
Sources Filled
- Wikidata item Q9633: neck - identity and sense of the item
- Wikipedia: Neck - general description of the item
Open questions
- Does the registry intend a human neck specifically, or a comparative anatomical region across animal groups?
- Which anatomical authorities and boundary conventions should govern each supported species?
- Does an existing Vercy world model already own this anatomical concept, requiring a registry link instead of a separate publication?
- Which measurement methods and reference populations support meaningful comparisons of neck dimensions and movement?
- Which species-specific assessment standards should govern action constraints when neck injury or impaired function is suspected?
Machine files
Provenance
thing registry research (pass 2) · unreviewed
Built from: models/things/publications/thing-q9633/spec.json