Cervical nerves

Nerve: Ansa cervicalis
Ansa cervicalis of Cervical Nerves 1 through 3. Superior root labeled as "descending hypoglossal", Inferior root labeled as "descending cervical".
Gray's	subject #210 928
Innervates	sternohyoid muscle, sternothyroid muscle, omohyoid muscle

The cervical nerves are the spinal nerves from the cervical vertebrae.

Although there are seven cervical vertebrae (C1-C7), there are eight cervical nerves (C1-C8). All nerves except C8 emerge above their corresponding vertebrae, while the C8 nerve emerges below the C7 vertebra. (In the other portions of the spine, the nerve emerges below the vertebra with the same name.)

Dorsal (posterior) distribution includes the greater occipital (C2) and third occipital (C3).

Ventral (anterior) distribution includes the cervical plexus (C1-C4) and brachial plexus (C5-C8)

Additional images

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  The nerves of the scalp, face, and side of neck.

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  Hypoglossal nerve, cervical plexus, and their branches.

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  Posterior primary divisions of the upper three cervical nerves.

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  Diagram of the distribution of the cutaneous branches of the posterior divisions of the spinal nerves.

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  Areas of distribution of the cutaneous branches of the posterior divisions of the spinal nerves.

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  The right brachial plexus with its short branches, viewed from in front.

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  Side of neck, showing chief surface markings.

This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained within it may be outdated.