Ansa cervicalis
You don't need to be Editor-In-Chief to add or edit content to WikiDoc. You can begin to add to or edit text on this WikiDoc page by clicking on the edit button at the top of this page. Next enter or edit the information that you would like to appear here. Once you are done editing, scroll down and click the Save page button at the bottom of the page.
| Nerve: Ansa cervicalis | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Ansa cervicalis. Superior root labeled as "descending hypoglossal", Inferior root labeled as "descending cervical". | |
| Gray's | subject #210 928 |
| Innervates | sternohyoid muscle, sternothyroid muscle, omohyoid muscle |
| Dorlands / Elsevier | a_44/12138601 |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Phone:617-525-6884
Please Take Over This Page and Apply to be Editor-In-Chief for this topic: There can be one or more than one Editor-In-Chief. You may also apply to be an Associate Editor-In-Chief of one of the subtopics below. Please mail us [2] to indicate your interest in serving either as an Editor-In-Chief of the entire topic or as an Associate Editor-In-Chief for a subtopic. Please be sure to attach your CV and or biographical sketch.
The ansa cervicalis (or ansa hypoglossi in older literature) is a loop of nerves that are part of the cervical plexus.
Branches from the ansa cervicalis innervate all but one of the infrahyoid muscles, including the sternohyoid muscle, the sternothyroid muscle, and the omohyoid muscle. The thyrohyoid muscle is innervated by C1 only.
Roots
Two roots make up the ansa cervicalis.
- The superior root (descendens hypoglossi) 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.
- The inferior root (descendens cervicalis) is formed by fibers from spinal nerves C2 and C3. The inferior root gives off branches to the inferior belly of the omohyoid muscle, and the lower parts of the sternothyroid and sternohyoid muscles.
Additional Images
 Plan of the cervical plexus. |
 The right brachial plexus with its short branches, viewed from in front. |
 Cervical plexus |
References
- "Ansa cervicalis." Stedman's Medical Dictionary, 27th ed. (2000). ISBN 0-683-40007-X
- Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice. (2005). ISBN 0-443-07168-3
External links
Nerves of head and neck: the cervical plexus (C1-C4) | |
|---|---|
| superficial | C2-C3: Lesser occipital • Greater auricular • Transverse cervical C3-C4: Supraclavicular |
| deep | C1-C3: Ansa cervicalis (superior root, inferior root) C3-C5: Phrenic |
Acknowledgement and Attribution Regarding Sources of Content
Some of the initial content on this page may be incorporated in part from copyleft sources in the public domain including wikis such as Wikipedia and AskDrWiki. Drug information for patients came from the The National Library of Medicine. Infectious disease information may have come from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Differential Diagnoses are drawn from clinicians as well as an amalgamation of 3 sources: 1.The Disease Database; 2. Kahan, Scott, Smith, Ellen G. In A Page: Signs and Symptoms. Malden, Massachusetts: Blackwell Publishing, 2004:3; 3. Sailer, Christian, Wasner, Susanne. Differential Diagnosis Pocket. Hermosa Beach, CA: Borm Bruckmeir Publishing LLC, 2002:7 .
