Disclosed is a dynamic cervical plate system that may be adjusted to length, locked in place to provide compression, and will automatically shorten its length to maintain compression. The system includes spinal cages coupled to the plate which provide intervertebral spacers for excised discs. The cervical plate system has a flat elongated shaft adapted to span the intervertebral space and has at least two screw receivers spaced along the length of the plate. The screw receivers each have screw holes for accepting the heads of bone screws. The spinal cage is coupled to the plate and interposed between the screw receivers.
