Cervical nerves

Nerve: Cervical nerves

Ansa cervicalis of cervical spinal 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 cervical 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 suboccipital (C1), greater occipital (C2) and third occipital (C3).

Ventral (anterior) distribution includes the cervical plexus (C1-C4) and brachial plexus (C5-T1).

Additional images

The nerves of the scalp, face, and side of neck
Hypoglossal nerve, cervical plexus, and their branches
Posterior primary divisions of the upper three cervical nerves
Diagram of the distribution of the cutaneous branches of the posterior divisions of the spinal nerves
Areas of distribution of the cutaneous branches of the posterior divisions of the spinal nerves
The right brachial plexus with its short branches, viewed from in front
Side of neck, showing chief surface markings
The spinal cord and its structures