Cervical plexus
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| Cervical plexus | |
|---|---|
 Dermatome distribution of the trigeminal nerve (Superficial cervical plexus visible in purple, at center bottom.) | |
| Details | |
| From | C1-C4 |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | plexus cervicalis |
| MeSH | D002572 |
| TA98 | A14.2.02.012 |
| TA2 | 6374 |
| FMA | 5904 |
| Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy | |
The cervical plexus is a plexus of the anterior rami of the first four cervical spinal nerves which arise from C1 to C4 cervical segment in the neck.[1][2][3] They are located laterally to the transverse processes between prevertebral muscles from the medial side and vertebral (m. scalenus, m. levator scapulae, m. splenius cervicis) from lateral side. There is anastomosis with accessory nerve, hypoglossal nerve and sympathetic trunk.
It is located in the neck, deep to the sternocleidomastoid muscle.[4] Nerves formed from the cervical plexus innervate the back of the head, as well as some neck muscles.[2] The branches of the cervical plexus emerge from the posterior triangle at the nerve point, a point which lies midway on the posterior border of the sternocleidomastoid.
Branches[]
The cervical plexus has two types of branches: cutaneous and muscular.[2]
- Cutaneous (4 branches):
- Lesser occipital nerve - innervates the skin and the scalp posterosuperior to the auricle (C2)
- Great auricular nerve - innervates skin near concha auricle (outer ear) and external acoustic meatus (ear canal) (C2&C3)
- Transverse cervical nerve - innervates anterior region of neck (C2 and C3)
- Supraclavicular nerves - innervate the skin above and below the clavicle (C3 and C4) [5]
- Muscular
- Ansa cervicalis (This is a loop formed from C1-C3 which supplies the four infrahyoid aka strap muscles), etc. (thyrohyoid (C1 only), sternothyroid, sternohyoid, omohyoid)
- Phrenic (C3-C5 (primarily C4))-innervates diaphragm and the pericardium
- Segmental branches (C1-C4)- innervates anterior and middle scalenes
Diagram[]
Additional images[]
Plan of the cervical plexus.
The nerves of the scalp, face, and side of neck.
The right sympathetic chain and its connections with the thoracic, abdominal, and pelvic plexuses.
Side of neck, showing chief surface markings.
See also[]
References[]
- ^ Donofrio, P. D.; Clarke, C. D. (2014-01-01), "Neuropathies, Iatrogenic", in Aminoff, Michael J.; Daroff, Robert B. (eds.), Encyclopedia of the Neurological Sciences (Second Edition), Oxford: Academic Press, pp. 481–484, doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-385157-4.00679-5, ISBN 978-0-12-385158-1, retrieved 2020-10-25
- ^ Jump up to: a b c Cesmebasi, Alper (2015-01-01), Tubbs, R. Shane; Rizk, Elias; Shoja, Mohammadali M.; Loukas, Marios (eds.), "Chapter 31 - Anatomy of the Cervical Plexus and Its Branches", Nerves and Nerve Injuries, San Diego: Academic Press, pp. 441–449, doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-410390-0.00032-9, ISBN 978-0-12-410390-0, retrieved 2020-10-25
- ^ Jo, Jasmin; Schiff, David (2014-01-01), Aminoff, Michael J.; Josephson, S. Andrew (eds.), "Chapter 26 - Metastatic Disease and the Nervous System", Aminoff's Neurology and General Medicine (Fifth Edition), Boston: Academic Press, pp. 539–562, doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-407710-2.00026-6, ISBN 978-0-12-407710-2, retrieved 2020-10-25
- ^ Moskovitz, Joshua B.; Choi, Andrew (2015-01-01), Tubbs, R. Shane; Rizk, Elias; Shoja, Mohammadali M.; Loukas, Marios (eds.), "Chapter 11 - Regional Nerve Blocks of the Head and Neck", Nerves and Nerve Injuries, San Diego: Academic Press, pp. 147–151, doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-410390-0.00011-1, ISBN 978-0-12-410390-0, retrieved 2020-10-25
- ^ Clinically Oriented Anatomy by Moore and Dally's
External links[]
- Anatomy figure: 25:03-02 at Human Anatomy Online, SUNY Downstate Medical Center - "Diagram of the cervical plexus"
- MedicalMnemonics.com: 268
- Diagram at msu.edu Archived 2019-06-03 at the Wayback Machine
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- Nerve plexus
- Spinal nerves
- Nerves of the head and neck