Cervical Plexus Flashcards
What is the cervical plexus formed by?
anterior primary rami of C1-C4
What form a series of communicating loops in the cervical plexus?
nerve roots
What fibers communicate with the loop formed by C1-C2?
inferior (nodose) vagal ganglion fibers
What do fibers from the spinal root of the accessory nerve carry?
proprioceptive information
Where do the fibers of the spinal root of the accessory nerve communicate?
loops formed by: C2-C3 and C3-C4
- SCM to C2 - trapezius to C3-C4
What named nerve communicates with C1 fibers?
Hypoglossal nerve
C1 fibers separate from the hypoglossal nerve and become what?
superior root of the ansa cervicalis
What usually carries postganglionic sympathetic fibers and loop between C1-C2 and C3-C4?
3 gray rami communicans (vasomotor, sudomotor, pilomotor)
What are the superficial branches of the cervical plexus?
lesser occipital nerve, great auricular nerve, transverse cutaneous nerve of the neck, medial/intermediate/lateral supraclavicular nerves
What fibers does the lesser occipital nerve carry?
C2 sometimes C3
What does the lesser occipital nerve supply?
skin on superior 1/3 of the auricle and skin behind the ear
What nerves does the lesser occipital nerve communicate with?
greater occipital nerve and great auricular nerve
What nerve might be implicated in cervicogenic headache?
lesser occipital nerve
What fibers does the great auricular nerve carry?
C2 and C3
What does the great auricular nerve enter and then divide into?
parotid gland, divides into anterior and posterior branches
What does the anterior branch of the great auricular nerve combine with?
facial nerve
What does the anterior branch of the great auricular nerve and the facial nerve together innervate?
skin over the parotid gland
What does the posterior branch of the great auricular nerve supply?
skin over the mastoid process
What does the transverse cutaneous nerve of the neck carry fiber wise?
Fibers from C2 and C3
What does the lateral cutaneous nerve of the neck divide into?
ascending and descending branches
What do the ascending and descending branches of the lateral cutaneous nerve supply?
skin over the platysma muscle
What trunks combine to form a trunk giving off the medial, intermediate, lateral supraclavicular nerves?
C3 and C4 trunks
What does the medial supraclavicular nerve supply?
skin inferior to the sternal end of the clavicle as far inferior as the 2nd rib
What does the intermediate supraclavicular nerve supply?
skin over the deltoid and pectoralis major as far inferior as the 2nd rib
What does the lateral supraclavicular nerve innervate?
skin over the superior and lateral aspects of the shoulder
What are the deep branches of the cervical plexus divided into?
a medial and lateral series
Where is the lateral series of deep cervical plexus found?
passes into the posterior triangle
What does the lateral series of deep cervical plexus divide into?
spinal root of the accessory nerve and muscular branches
What does the spinal root of the accessory nerve recieve communicating branches from?
fibers from C2-C4
What are the 4 muscular branches of the lateral series of deep cervical plexus fibers?
SCM, trapezius, levator scapula, middle scalene
Where does the SCM receive proprioceptive information from?
C2, C3 and C4
Where does the trapezius receive proprioceptive information from?
C2 maybe C3
Where does levator scapula recieve motor and sensory fibers from?
C3 and C4
Where does the middle scalene receive fibers from?
C3 and C4
Where does the medial series from the deep cervical plexus pass?
passes into the anterior triangle
What does the medial series of deep cervical plexus fibers divide into?
communicating and muscular branches
What are the communicating branches of the medial deep cervical plexus fibers?
- between vagus and loop between C1 and C2
- 3-4 gray rami communicans to form the superior cervical ganglion to the upper 4 cervical nerves (C1-4)
- fibers from C1 communicating w/ hypoglossal nerve, separates from the hypoglossal nerve to form the superior root of the ansa cervicalis
What are the muscular branches of the medial series of deep cervical plexus fibers sent to?
rectus capitis lateralis
rectus capitis anterior
longus capitis
longus colli
What fibers of the muscular branches of the deep cervical plexus fibers supply rectus capitis lateralis?
C1
What fibers of the muscular branches of the deep cervical plexus fibers supply rectus capitis anterior?
C1 and C2
What fibers of the muscular branches of the deep cervical plexus fibers supply longus capitis?
C1-C3
What fibers of the muscular branches of the deep cervical plexus fiberes supply longus colli?
C2-C4
What branches from the medial series of deep cervical plexus fibers combine to form the inferior root of the ansa cervicalis?
C2 and C3
What does the ansa cervicalis supply?
sternohyoid, sternothyroid, and both bellies of omohyoid
What is the phrenic nerve formed by?
C3-C5
What cervical nerve contributes the most fibers to the ansa cervicalis?
C4
How does the phrenic nerve travel?
descends through the neck, anterior to the anterior scalene muscle
How does the phrenic nerve receive postganglionic fibers?
from the cervical ganglia
What does the phrenic nerve innervate?
diaphragm
What could be a cause of hiccups that just won’t go away?
subluxation affecting the phrenic nerve
When is someone considered a quadrapaligic?
spinal cord injury at C8 or above (you can still breathe do to multiple cord levels supplying the diaphragm)
