cervical spinal nerves

Question 1

Suboccipital nerve - where do axons come from?

Answer 1

Dorsal rami C1

Question 2

Suboccipital nerve - muscular branches - functions?

Answer 2

sensory
postganglionic sympathetic (gray ramus)
motor (lmn)

Question 3

Suboccipital nerve - innervation (5)

Answer 3

semispinalis capitis 
inferior oblique
superior oblique 
rectus capitis posterior major 
rectus capitis posterior minor

Question 4

Greater occipital nerve - 2 branches?

Answer 4

medial branch

lateral branch

Question 5

Greater occipital nerve - where do axons come from?

Answer 5

Dorsal rami C2

Question 6

Greater occipital nerve - medial branch 
function / innervation?

Answer 6

sensory + postganglionic sympathetic (gray ramus)

- skin overlying back of head

Question 7

Greater occipital nerve - lateral branch - 
function / innervation

Answer 7

sensory + postganglionic sympathetic (gray ramus) + motor (lmn)

• splenius capitis
• longissimus capitis
• semispinalis capitis

Question 8

Greater occipital nerve - lateral branch - innervation (3)

Answer 8

splenius capitis
longissimus capitis
semispinalis capitis

Question 9

Dorsal rami C3 - Medial Branch (3rd occipital nerve)
function / innervation

Answer 9

sensory and postganglionic sympathetic (gray ramus)

- skin overlying suboccipital triangle

Question 10

Dorsal rami C3 - Lateral Branch 
function / innervation

Answer 10

sensory + postganglionic sympathetic (gray ramus) + motor (lmn)
- overlying neck muscles

Question 11

Dorsal rami C4-8 - Medial Branches
function / innervation

Answer 11

sensory + postganglionic sympathetic (gray rami commnicans)

- skin overlying cervical vertebrae

Question 12

Dorsal rami C4-8 - Lateral branches
function / innervation

Answer 12

sensory + postganglionic sympathetic (gray ramus) + motor (lmn)
- overlying neck muscles

Question 13

Ventral rami of cervical vertebrae (c1-c4) make up the_________?

Answer 13

Cervical plexus
*note that C5 is included in the diagram in order to include the phrenic nerve but is not normally considered part of the cervical plexus

Question 14

Cutaneous branches of Cervical Plexus (4)

Answer 14

lesser occipital nerve (c2)
great auricular nerve (c2,3)
transverse cervicle nerve (c2,3)
suprascapular nerve (c3,4)

Question 15

sensory branches of cervical plexus (non-cutaneous) (2)

Answer 15

proprioceptive branches to trapezius muscle

proprioceptive branches to the sternocleidomastoid muscle

Question 16

muscular branches of Cervical Plexus (6)

Answer 16

nerve to geniohyoid muscle (c1)
nerve to thyrohyoid muscle (c1)
superior root of ansa cervicalis (c1)
inferior root of ansa cervicalis (c2,3)
phrenic nerve (c3-5)
miscellaneous muscular branches

Question 17

All of the cutaneous and non-cutaneous sensory branches of the cervical plexus have the following axonal functions

Answer 17

sensory
postganglionic sympathetic (gray ramus / gray rami cummunicans)

Question 18

Lesser occipital nerve - origin and innervation

Answer 18

Ventral rami C2

Skin overlying the posterior-lateral aspect of the head and upper neck

Question 19

Great auricular nerve - origin and innervation

Answer 19

Ventral rami C2,3

Skin overlying the upper SCM, lower parotid region, and ear

Question 20

Transverse cervical nerve - origin and innervation

Answer 20

Ventral rami C2,3

Skin overlying the lower SCM and anterior neck

Question 21

Suprascapular nerve - origin and innervation

Answer 21

Ventral rami C3,4

Skin overlying the lower half of the posterior triangle of the neck

Question 22

All muscular branches of the cervical plexus have the following axonal functions

Answer 22

sensory
postganglionic sympathetic (Gray ramus / gray rami communicans)
motor (lmn)

Question 23

Nerve to the geniohyoid muscle - origin and innervation

Answer 23

Ventral rami C1

Geniohyoid muscle

Question 24

Nerve to the thyrohyoid muscle - origin and innervation

Answer 24

Ventral rami C1

thyrohyoid muscle

Question 25

Superior root of the ansa cervicalis - origin and innervation

Answer 25

Ventral rami C1 | Superior belly of omohyoid muscle

Question 26

Inferior root of the ansa cervicalis - origin and innervation

Answer 26

Ventral rami C2,3 Sternohyoid Sternothyroid Inferior belly of omohyoid muscle

Question 27

Phrenic nerve - origin and innervation

Answer 27

Ventral rami C3-5 Diaphragm (other under unit 2)

Question 28

Miscellaneous muscular branches of the cervical plexus innervate (5)

Answer 28

``` longus capitis longus coli anterior scalene middle scalene posterior scalene ```