Final answer:
Whiplash is the traumatic injury caused by violent movement of the neck and head, commonly from rear-end car accidents, which stretches or tears the neck ligaments.
Step-by-step explanation:
A traumatic injury to the cervical vertebrae caused by violent back-and-forth movement of the neck and head is known as whiplash. This type of injury can occur when the head and neck suddenly forward and backward. The extreme movement can stretch or tear the anterior longitudinal ligament in the neck, leading to a painful condition. Whiplash is often associated with rear-end automobile collisions, particularly in the past when seat headrests were not mandatory.