Cervical Spinal Nerves and Related Structures

Question 1

Cervical Spinal Nerves

Cervical vertebrae
What’s unusual about these spinal nerves in relation to the spinal column? Why?

Derived Plexuses

Answer 1

C spinal nerves consist of C1-C8
C vertebrae consist of C1-C7, so the spinal cord C8 sits above T1 rather than a C8 vertebrae (since one doesn’t exist).

The spinal nerves all sit above their corresponding vertebrae except for C8, because there are 8 cervical cords beginning with C1 which sits above the atlas (C1).

Derived plexuses include the brachial and the cervical

Question 2

Special cervical cords (two) and their respective locations

Answer 2

C2 Ansa cervicalis: consists of a superior and an inferior, maintain a loop

C3,4,5 Phrenic nerve. 3-4-5 keeps the diaphragm alive.

Question 3

C1-C4 is the

Answer 3

cervical plexus

Consists of the ansa cervicalis (with superior/inferior) (C2)

Question 4

C3,4,5 is the

Answer 4

phrenic nerve, regulates the diaphragm

Question 5

C5-T1 is the

Answer 5

brachial plexus

some of T1 connects to C8

nemonic device (Real Texans Drink Cold Beer)

1) Roots converge on trunks
2) trunks consist of inferior/middle/superior trunks
3) each of these contain anterior and posterior divisions which
4) converge into cords, these cords have anterior and posterior branching

Question 6

Brachial Plexus

Answer 6

C5-T1

Real Texans Drink Cold Beer

Question 7

Cervical Plexus

Answer 7

C1-C4