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Cervical Plexus

This is an excerpt from Concise Book of the Moving Body-2nd Edition, The by Chris Jarmey.

Cervical Plexus

The cervical plexus is located in the upper cervical region, deep to the sternocleidomastoid muscle and anterolateral to the levator scapulae and middle scalene muscles (figure 7.4).

Figure 7.4. Anatomy of the cervical plexus.
Figure 7.4. Anatomy of the cervical plexus.

The plexus consists of two main groups of nerve branches:

  • Muscular (deep) branches: These are located deep to the sensory branches and supply some of the muscles of the neck, back, and diaphragm.
  • Cutaneous (superficial) branches: These supply the skin of the neck, upper thorax, scalp, and ear.
    The accessory and hypoglossal nerves (CN XI/XII) carry branches of the cervical plexus, in addition to receiving fibers from the sympathetic trunk (via the superior cervical ganglion).

Overview of the Cervical Plexus
The cervical plexus can be seen as a cluster of nerves originating from the anterior rami of spinal nerves C1–4. A nerve loop known as the “ansa cervicalis” is formed by branches of spinal nerves C1–3 and provides motor innervation to all infrahyoid muscles except the thyrohyoid muscle.

The phrenic nerve originates from C3–5 and travels into the thoracic cavity. It provides motor innervation to the diaphragm and sensory supply to the pericardium and diaphragm, and the parietal peritoneum under the diaphragm (figure 7.5).

Figure 7.5. Phrenic nerve innervation of the diaphragm.
Figure 7.5. Phrenic nerve innervation of the diaphragm.

Key points about the Cervical Plexus

The cervical plexus also provides proprioceptive contributions to the spinal root of the accessory nerve, innervating the trapezius and sternocleidomastoid. The superficial/cutaneous branches of the cervical plexus (lesser occipital, great auricular, transverse cervical, and supraclavicular nerves) innervate the skin of the neck, scalp, and shoulder. C1 fibers do not supply sensation to skin.

More Excerpts From Concise Book of the Moving Body 2nd Edition

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