Ansa cervicalis

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The ansa cervicalis (or ansa hypoglossi in older literature) is a loop of nerves that are part of the cervical plexus.

Two roots make up the ansa cervicalis.

• The superior root of the ansa cervicalis is a loop between fibers from spinal nerves C1 and C2. 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 a branch off to the superior belly of the omohyoid muscle and is then joined by the inferior root.

• The inferior root is formed by fibers from spinal nerves C2 and C3.

Branches from the ansa cervicalis innervate the sternohyoid muscle, sternothyroid muscle, and the inferior belly of the omohyoid muscle.

[edit] See also

• ansa

[edit] Additional Images

Plan of the cervical plexus. (Ansa cervicalis labeled at bottom center right.)

Cervical plexus

[edit] 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

[edit] External links

• SUNY Figs 25:03-08
• Photo and description at tufts.edu