Cervical plexus Flashcards
what makes up the cervical plexus
ventral primary rami of C1-C4
what do the rami of the cervical plexus receive from
These VPR all receive gray rami communicans from the superior cervical ganglion (S) and distribute sympathetic innervation through their branches.
there are two sets of branches in the cervical plexus
Superficial
Deep
superficial branches are what kind of branches
all branches are cutaneous
Deep branches are what kind of branches
medial and lateral branches which are all muscular
Superficial Branches name
Lesser occipital nerve
Great auricular nerve
Transverse cervical nerve
Supraclavicular nerves
Lesser Occipital Nerve number
C2
made out of a loop of C2 and C3 but I mostly made up of
Lesser Occipital Nerve what kind of nerve
cutaneous - superficial branch
Lesser Occipital Nerve location
The lesser occipital nerve ascends along the posterior border of sternocleidomastoid
lesser occipital nerve supplies what part of the skin
skin of the upper auricle (outer ear) and the lateral side of the head posterior to the auricle.
Great Auricular Nerve segmental innervation
C2 and C3
Great Auricular Nerve location
The great auricular nerve is a large nerve that wraps around the posterior border of sternocleidomastoid and ascends on that muscle with the external jugular vein.
Great Auricular Nerve innervation
It supplies the skin over the parotid gland, mastoid process and posterior auricle.
Transverse Cervical Nerve segmental
C2 and C3
Transverse Cervical Nerve location
The transverse cervical nerve winds around the posterior border of sternocleidomastoid and runs anteriorly.
It divides into ascending and descending branches
Transverse Cervical Nerve innervation
supply the skin of the anterolateral neck.
Supraclavicular Nerves segmental
C3 and C4.
Supraclavicular Nerves location
The supraclavicular nerve trunk emerges from beneath the posterior border of sternocleidomastoid
Divides into medial, intermediate and lateral branches.
Supraclavicular Nerves innervation
They supply the skin of the anterior chest to the 2nd rib, and the upper and posterior shoulder.
Deep Branches of the Cervical Plexus
include
1.) Medial series
Communicating branches to X and XII
Muscular branches to rectus capitis lateralis, rectus capitis anterior, longus capitis and longus colli
Inferior root of ansa cervicalis
Phrenic nerve
2) Lateral series
communicating branches to XI
Communicating Branches to X & XII is in what series
medial
Communicating Branches to X & XII segmental
C1 and C2
Communicating Branches to X & XII pathway
The communicating branch to XII passes from the loop formed between C1 and C2. It travels with XII for a bit and then leaves it to divide into branches
branches of Communicating Branches to X & XII
branches which include nerves to thyrohyoid and geniohyoid and the superior root of ansa cervicalis.
communicating branch to X segmental
passes from the loop formed between C1 and C2.
From the loop formed between C1 and C2, branches arise to supply what
rectus capitis lateralis , rectus capitis anterior and longus capitis.
rectus capitis lateralis segmental
C1
rectus capitis anterior segmental
C1, 2
longus capitis segmental
C1 C2 C3
branches arise directly from the C2, C3 and C4 VPR
longus capitis and longus colli .
inferior root of ansa cervicalis segmental
C2 and a branch from C3
what make the ansa cervicalis
inferior and superior root
Ansa Cervicalis location
inferior root of ansa cervicalis - internal jugular vein,
Superior root of ansa cervicalis = common carotid artery.
what does the Ansa Cervicalis
innervate
infrahyoid muscles except thyrohyoid
infrahyoid muscles
Sternohyoid
Omohyoid - superior and inferior bellies
Thyrohyoid
Sternothyroid
phrenic nerve segmental
C3, C4 and C5 VPR
major contribution is from C4
phrenic nerve innervation
sole innervation to the diaphragm
phrenic nerve location
phrenic nerve passes down on the anterior surface of scalenus anterior and enters the thorax
what travels with the spinal accessory nerve (XI)
Branches from C2, C3 and C4 VPR pass laterally to travel with the Spinal Accessory Nerve (XI).
Communicating Branches to XI is part of what series
Lateral Series
Communicating Branches to XI innervate what
sternocleidomastoid , trapezius , levator scapulae and scalenus medius
sternocleidomastoid segmental
C2,3
trapezius segmental segmental
C3,4
levator scapulae segmental
C3,4
scalenus medius segmental
C3,4
what will the the branches of the cervical dorsal primary rami supply
the deep posterior cervical muscles and the skin on the posterior head and neck.
Suboccipital Nerve segmental
C1 Dorsal Primary Ramus
Suboccipital Nerve location
It emerges superior to the posterior arch of the atlas and enters the suboccipital triangle
Suboccipital Nerve - C1 is a VPR or DPR
DPR
Suboccipital Nerve innervates what
It carries motor fibers to supply the four suboccipital muscles and also part of the semi-spinalis capitis.
Suboccipital Triangle borders
Rectus capitis posterior major medially
obliquus capitis inferior inferiorly
the obliquus capitis superior laterally.
what can be found in the Suboccipital Triangle
suboccipital nerve, vertebral artery and posterior arch of the atlas.
C2 Dorsal Primary Ramus
branches
medial and lateral branches
medial branch of C2 DPR
greater occipital nerve
greater occipital nerve comes from under where
emerges from under the obliquus capitis inferior
greater occipital nerve innervates
semispinalis capitis, and ascends to supply the skin of the posterior scalp.
C3 through C8 Dorsal Primary Rami
divide into medial and lateral branches which supply the skin of the posterior neck and deep muscles of the neck and upper back.
