Cervical plexus Flashcards
(19 cards)
What are the roots of the cervical plexus?
C1-4 anterior rami
Where is the cervical plexus located?
Deep within the posterior triangle of the neck, halfway up the SCM, within prevertebral layer of cervical fascia
What nerves make up the cervical plexus?
Phrenic nerve
Lesser occipital nerve
Greater auricular nerve
Transverse cervical nerve
Supraclavicular nerve
Roots of phrenic neve?
C3-5
Roots of lesser occipital nerve?
C2
What does lesser occipital nerve supply?
supplies cutaneous sensation to the posterosuperior scalp, and commonly communicates with the posterior branch of the greater auricular nerve.
Supraclavicular nerve roots?
C3-4
What does Supraclavicular nerve supply?
They arise from the behind the posterior border of sternocleidomastoid, and provide sensation to the skin overlying the supraclavicular fossa and upper thoracic region and sternoclavicular joint.
Transverse Cervical Roots
C2-3
What does the Transverse cervical nerve supply?
It curves around the posterior aspect of the sternocleidomastoid, and supplies sensation to the anterior neck. The nerve then pierces the deep cervical fascia and then gives branches that pass superiorly and inferiorly to supply the anterolateral skin of the neck and upper sternu
Greater auricular nerve roots
C2-3
Greater auricular nerve roots
C2-3
What does the Greater auricular nerve supply?
It provides sensation to the external ear and the skin over the parotid gland. It is the largest ascending branch of the plexus.
Nerves to geniohyoid and thyrohyoid roots?
C1
What do the Nerves to geniohyoid and thyrohyoid supply?
The C1 spinal nerve gives rise to nerves to the geniohyoid (moves the hyoid bone anteriorly and upwards, expanding the airway) and the thyrohyoid (which depresses the hyoid bone and elevates the larynx).
These nerves travel with the hypoglossal nerve to reach their respective muscles.
Ansa cervicalis roots
C1-3
What does the ansa cervicalis supply?
gives off four muscular branches to infrahyoids:
Superior belly of the omohyoid muscle
Inferior belly of omohyoid muscle
Sternohyoid
Sternothyroid
These muscles (the infrahyoids) act to depress the hyoid bone; an important function for swallowing and speech.
Other muscular branches from cervical plexus?
C1-C2: Rectus capitis anterior and lateralis
C1-C3: Longus capitis
C2-C3: Contributions to the prevertebral muscles and sternocleidomastoid
C3-C4: Contributions to the levator scapulae, trapezius and scalenus medius
Phrenic nerve pathway
After arising from the cervical plexus, the nerve travels down the surface of the anterior scalene muscle and enters the thorax. In the thoracic cavity, the nerve descends anteriorly to the root of the lung to reach the diaphragm.
