Nerve
accessory
Source
Branches
cranial root: no named
medulla branches
nucleus
ambiguus;
spinal root:
spinal
nucleus of
the upper
cervical
spinal cord
cluneal,
inferior
posterior
femoral
cutaneous
n.
lateral
cutaneous
branches of
the dorsal
primary
rami of
spinal
nerves S1-3
lateral
cutaneous
branches of
the dorsal
primary
rami of
spinal
nerves L1-3
ventral
primary
rami of
spinal
nerves S4,
S5, C1
first branch
off of the
dorsal side
of the spinal
nerve
cluneal,
middle
cluneal,
superior
coccygeal
plexus
dorsal
primary
ramus
Nerves of the Back Region
Motor
Sensory
GSE:
none
sternocleidomastoid
and trapezius mm.
Notes
also known as: CN XI,
11th cranial nerve; spinal
root enters cranial cavity
by passing through the
foramen magnum; exits
skull by passing through
the jugular foramen;
accessory n. is motor
only; the subtrapezial
plexus of nerves receives
proprioceptive fibers: for
the sternocleidomastoid
m. from the ventral
primary rami of spinal nn.
C2 and C3 - for trapezius
via ventral primary rami
of C3 and C4
"clunis" is a Latin word
meaning buttock
no named
branches
none
skin of the lower
part of the
buttock
no named
branches
none
skin of the
intermediate
medial portion of
the buttock
"clunis" is a Latin word
meaning buttock
no named
branches
none
skin of the
superomedial
portion of the
buttock
"clunis" is a Latin word
meaning buttock
anococcygeal
n.
none
skin of the region
overlying the
coccyx
only part of the S4 ventral
primary ramus is
contributed to the
coccygeal plexus
numerous
to the deep back
mm.; sympathetic
innervation to the
skin
general sense
(touch, pressure,
pain, heat, cold,
etc.) to the skin of
the back
a mixed nerve containing
both motor and sensory
fibers
1
dorsal
root
dorsal
root
ganglion
dorsal
scapular
n.
from the
none
dorsal horn
of the spinal
cord to the
spinal nerve
dorsal
dorsal
rootlets
rootlets
brachial
plexus (br.
of C5
ventral
primary
ramus)
intercostal ventral
n.
primary
rami of
spinal
nerves T1T11
occipital,
dorsal
greater
primary
ramus of
spinal nerve
C2 (medial
br.)
occipital,
ventral
lesser
primary
ramus of
spinal nerve
C2
occipitalis dorsal
tertius
primary
ramus of
spinal nerve
C3 (medial
br.)
ramus,
first branch
dorsal
off of the
primary
dorsal side
of the spinal
nerve
ramus,
first branch
ventral
off of the
primary
ventral side
none
general sense
(touch, pressure,
pain, heat, cold,
etc.)
dorsal root is entirely
sensory in function; it is
located dorsal to the
denticulate ligament
none
one dermatome
no named
branches
rhomboideus major
and minor mm.;
levator scapulae m.
none
a sensory ganglion;
located in the
intervertebral foramen of
the vertebral column on
the dorsal root - one per
spinal nerve; location of
the cell bodies of somatic
afferent (sensory) neurons
dorsal scapular n. passes
through the scalenus
medius m.
lateral &
anterior
cutaneous
brs.
intercostal muscles;
abdominal wall
muscles (via T7T11); muscles of the
forearm and hand
(via T1)
posterior neck
muscles
skin of the chest
and abdomen
anterolaterally;
skin of the medial
side of the upper
limb (via T1-T2)
skin of the
posterior surface
of the scalp
intercostal n.travels below
the posterior intercostal a.
in the costal groove
no named
branches
none
skin behind the
ear
lesser occipital n. arises
from the cervical plexus
no named
branches
posterior neck
muscles
skin of the
posterior surface
of the neck
muscles innervated by
this nerve develop from
epimeres in the embryo
numerous
to the deep back
mm.; sympathetic
innervation to the
skin
a mixed nerve containing
both motor and sensory
fibers
numerous
to skeletal mm. of
the neck, trunk and
extremities;
general sense
(touch, pressure,
pain, heat, cold,
etc.) to the skin of
the back
general sense
(touch, pressure,
pain, heat, cold,
no named
branches
muscles innervated by
this nerve develop from
epimeres in the embryo
a mixed nerve containing
both motor and sensory
fibers
2
root,
dorsal
root,
ventral
spinal n.
ventral
primary
ramus
of the spinal
nerve
sympathetic
innervation to the
skin
etc.) to the skin of
the trunk (except
the back) and
extremities;
visceral pain via
the white rami of
the sympathetic
nervous system
(T1-L2)
general sense
(touch, pressure,
pain, heat, cold,
etc.)
from the
none
dorsal horn
of the spinal
cord to the
spinal nerve
from the
none
ventral horn
of the spinal
cord to the
spinal nerve
none
to skeletal mm.;
preganglionic
sympathetic (T1-L2)
none
formed at
the point
where the
dorsal and
ventral
rootlets
meet; it
ends where
the dorsal
and ventral
primary
rami
diverge
first branch
off of the
ventral side
of the spinal
nerve
dorsal
primary
ramus;
ventral
primary
ramus
to skeletal mm.;
some levels carry
preganglionic
sympathetic axons
(T1-L2)
numerous
to skeletal mm. of
the neck, trunk and
extremities;
sympathetic
innervation to the
skin
general sense
(touch, pressure,
pain, heat, cold,
etc.) from the
entire surface of
the neck, trunk
and extremities;
visceral pain (via
the white ramus
communicans
and the
sympathetic
nervous system)
general sense
(touch, pressure,
pain, heat, cold,
etc.) to the skin of
the trunk (except
the back) and
extremities;
visceral pain via
the white rami of
the sympathetic
dorsal root is entirely
sensory in function; it is
located dorsal to the
denticulate ligament
entirely motor in
function; located ventral
to the denticulate
ligament; at all spinal core
levels it contains GSE for
skeletal mm.; at levels T1L2 it contains GVE
(preganglionic
sympathetic) for blood
vessels, sweat glands,
thoracic viscera,
abdominal viscera, pelvic
viscera
located at the
intervertebral foramen;
there are 31 pairs of
spinal nerves - 8 cervical,
12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, 5
sacral, 1 coccygeal
a mixed nerve containing
both motor and sensory
fibers
3
ventral
root
from the
none
ventral horn
of the spinal
cord to the
spinal nerve
to skeletal mm.;
preganglionic
sympathetic (T1-L2)
nervous system
(T1-L2)
none
entirely motor in
function; located ventral
to the denticulate
ligament; at all spinal core
levels it contains GSE for
skeletal mm.; at levels T1L2 it contains GVE
(preganglionic
sympathetic) for blood
vessels, sweat glands,
thoracic viscera,
abdominal viscera, pelvic
viscera
4