The transverse cervical nerve (superficial cervical or cutaneous cervical) is a cutaneous (sensory) nerve of the

cervical plexus The cervical plexus is a nerve plexus of the anterior rami of the first (i.e. upper-most) four cervical spinal nerves C1-C4. The cervical plexus provides motor innervation to some muscles of the neck, and the diaphragm; it provides sensory inne ...

that arises from the second and third cervical

spinal nerves A spinal nerve is a mixed nerve, which carries motor, sensory, and autonomic signals between the spinal cord and the body. In the human body there are 31 pairs of spinal nerves, one on each side of the vertebral column. These are grouped into ...

(C2-C3). It curves around the posterior border of the sternocleidomastoideus muscle, then pierces the fascia of the neck before dividing into two branches. It provides sensory innervation to the front of the neck.

Anatomy

Course and relations

It curves around the posterior border of the sternocleidomastoideus muscle about its middle, and, passing obliquely forward beneath the

external jugular vein The external jugular vein is a paired jugular vein which receives the greater part of the blood from the exterior of the cranium and the deep parts of the face, being formed by the junction of the posterior division of the retromandibular vein wi ...

to the anterior border of the muscle, it perforates the

deep cervical fascia The deep cervical fascia (or fascia colli in older texts) lies under cover of the platysma, and invests the muscles of the neck; it also forms sheaths for the carotid vessels, and for the structures situated in front of the vertebral column. Its ...

before dividing into an ascending branch and a descending branch beneath the

platysma The platysma muscle or platysma is a :wikt:superficial, superficial muscle of the human neck that overlaps the sternocleidomastoid. It covers the anterior surface of the neck superficially. When it contracts, it produces a slight wrinkling of the ...

. The ascending branch communicates with the

cervical branch of the facial nerve The cervical branch of the facial nerve is a nerve in the neck. It is a branch of the facial nerve (VII). It supplies the platysma muscle, among other functions. Structure The cervical branch of the facial nerve is a branch of the facial nerve ...

Dissection

During dissection, the sternocleidomastoid muscle is the landmark, with the transverse cervical nerve passing horizontally over this muscle from Erb's point.

Distribution

The nerve provides sensory innervation to the skin of the anterior neck between the chin and the sternum.

Additional images

File:Gray784.png, Dermatome distribution of the trigeminal nerve File:Gray1210.png, Side of neck, showing chief surface markings.

References

External links

* * Nerves of the head and neck {{neuroanatomy-stub