Cervical plexus | |
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Dermatome distribution of the trigeminal nerve (Superficial cervical plexus visible in purple, at center bottom.)
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Details | |
From | C1-C4 |
Identifiers | |
Latin | plexus cervicalis |
Dorlands /Elsevier |
p_24/12647686 |
TA | A14.2.02.012 |
FMA | 5904 |
Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy
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The cervical plexus is a plexus of the anterior rami of the first four cervical spinal nerves which are located from C1 to C4 cervical segment in the neck. 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 sternocleidomastoid. Nerves formed from the cervical plexus innervate the back of the head, as well as some neck muscles. 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.
The cervical plexus has two types of branches: cutaneous and muscular.
Additionally there are two branches formed by the posterior roots of spinal nerves:
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.