Nerves of the back

Question 1

What nerves allow for scapular retraction?

Answer 1

Spinal accessory nerve
Dorsal scapular nerve

Question 2

While wandering around in the dark in an unfamiliar home, a visitor accidentally walks into a plate glass door. The door shatters and a shard of glass severs the posterolateral aspect of the woman’s neck. Examination reveals that she is unable to elevate the tip of her shoulder on the injured side. The nerve injured is?

Answer 2

Accessory nerve because the two muscles responsible for elevating the glenoid cavity are the ascending and descending fibers, which are innervated by the spinal accessory nerve.

Question 3

Interruption of the cranial nerve XI would paralyze what muscle?

Answer 3

Trapezius

This is the motor neuron for the the trapezius

Question 4

What nerves innervate the serratus posterior superior?

Answer 4

Anterior rami (T2-T5)

Question 5

What nerve innervates the serratus posterior inferior?

Answer 5

Anterior rami (T9-T12)

Question 6

What is the innervation for the splenius capitis?

Answer 6

Posterior rami of middle cervical nerves

Question 7

What is the innervation for the splenius cervicis?

Answer 7

Posterior rami of the middle cervical nerves

Question 8

What nerve innervates the semispinalis capitis?

Answer 8

Greater occipital nerve or C2