Superior root of ansa cervicalis

The superior root of the ansa cervicalis is formed by a branch of spinal nerve C1.

These nerve fibers travel in the hypoglossal nerve before leaving to form the superior root.

The superior root goes around the occipital artery and then descends in the carotid sheath.

It sends off branches to the superior belly of the omohyoid muscle, and the upper parts of the sternothyroid and sternohyoid muscles and is then joined by the inferior root.