The portion of the spine contained within the neck is referred to as the cervical spine - that's the site for injuries known as neck strain. Both strains and sprains of the neck may involve tears to ligaments covering the cervical vertebrae.
A 'burner,' also called a 'stinger,' is a common nerve injury resulting from trauma to the neck and shoulder. Symptoms of stingers are usually short-lived -- seconds to minutes -- but severe injuries can take weeks or months to heal.
Whiplash is when your head suddenly moves backward and then forward. These extreme motions push your neck muscles and ligaments beyond their normal range of motion.