Innervation of the lower third of the sternocleidomastoid muscle by the ansa cervicalis through the C1 descendens hypoglossal branch: a previously unreported anatomical variant

J N St J Blythe; J Matharu; W J Reuther; P A Brennan

doi:10.1016/j.bjoms.2015.01.005

Innervation of the lower third of the sternocleidomastoid muscle by the ansa cervicalis through the C1 descendens hypoglossal branch: a previously unreported anatomical variant

Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2015 May;53(5):470-1. doi: 10.1016/j.bjoms.2015.01.005. Epub 2015 Mar 6.

Authors

J N St J Blythe¹, J Matharu², W J Reuther², P A Brennan²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Queen Alexandra Hospital, Cosham, Portsmouth PO6 3LY, United Kingdom. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Queen Alexandra Hospital, Cosham, Portsmouth PO6 3LY, United Kingdom.

PMID: 25747248
DOI: 10.1016/j.bjoms.2015.01.005

Abstract

We describe a previously unreported anatomical variant (found during a routine neck dissection) in which the lower third of the sternocleidomastoid was innervated by the C1 branch of the ansa cervicalis (descendens hypoglossi).

Keywords: Ansa cervicalis; Descendens hypoglossi; Neck dissection; Sternocleidomastoid muscle; Sternomastoid muscle.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Accessory Nerve / anatomy & histology*
Aged
Anatomic Variation*
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / surgery
Cervical Plexus / anatomy & histology
Humans
Hypoglossal Nerve / anatomy & histology*
Male
Neck Dissection
Neck Muscles / innervation*
Tongue Neoplasms / surgery