Spinal Accessory Nerve

Question 1

What are the two roots of the accessory nerve?

Answer 1

Cranial root

Spinal accessory

Question 2

Spinal accessory is mostly ____ (some ___)

Answer 2

Mostly motor

some sensory

Question 3

Where does the cranial root originate?

Answer 3

Hind brain close to vagus

Question 4

Where does the spinal accessory originate?

Answer 4

Arises in the cervical spinal cord

Enters foramen magnum and then joins up with the cranial root to travel through jugular foramen

Question 5

Describe the course of the spinal accessory nerve

Answer 5

Arises from cervical spinal cord
ascends and goes through foramen magnum
Joins cranial part and travels through jugular foramen
Passes under SCM
Passes across the floor of the posterior triangle of the neck
Passes under trapezius

Question 6

Describe the course of the cranial root of accessory nerve

Answer 6

Arises in the hind brain
Joins with the spinal accessory and travels through jugular foramen
Separates from spinal just outside jugular foramen and joins vagus between superior and inferior vagal ganglion

Question 7

Where do the cranial part and spinal part of the accessory nerve separate?

Answer 7

Just inferior to jugular foramen