Rebato, by Jesse Mathes

The neck is the most fragile and important parts of the body. The spine runs through it, connecting the brain—our center of thought–from the rest of the body that it operates. The trachea allows air to move from nose and sinuses to the lungs, allowing us to breathe and live. Air from the lungs passing through the larynx enables us to speak, which some say sets us apart from other species. The esophagus allows food to pass through to the stomach keeping the body nourished. The carotid artery and the jugular vein run through the neck carrying blood and oxygen to keep the brain operating and cooled, and carrying that de-oxygenated blood back to the heart. The surest way to kill a body—and a brain—is through the neck. Continue reading →