Objective To measure movement patterns and size of cervical spine motion segments in paraphysiologic zone by fixed-point cervical rotatory manipulation. Methods The cervical spines from two fresh cadavers of young males with acute brain death were fixed on MTS testing machine. Fixed-point cervical rotatory manipulation was simulated and 3D coordinate of each cervical spine motion segment was collected to calculate physical movement pattern of each segment in paraphysiologic zone. Results The physiological rotation range of C1-C2 segments at left and right side was 22.65°and 17.68°, respectively, being the largest in passive activities under the effect of C4 fixed-point countertraction. The physiological activities of the remaining 3 segments were decreased in turn. The paraphysiologic zone of C4-C5 segments was the smallest, which was 0.55°and 0.84° at left and right side, respectively. The other segment would have a larger paraphysiologic zone if it was farther from fixed-point C4 segment. When the cervical spine rotated in paraphysiologic zone, each motion segment would have a coupling movement to the stretching and contralateral bending side. Moreover, except for C1-C2 segments, the remaining segments moved upward, while movement patterns of C2-C3 segments were opposite to the other segments in backward and forward movement and at horizontal side. Conclusions The size of paraphysiologic zone in each segment of the cervical spine is different. The farther from the fixed-point area of segment, the larger the paraphysiologic zone, and there are significant differences in segmental motion patterns of cervical spine in paraphysiologic zone.