Ansa cervicalis

Ansa cervicalis
Ansa cervicalis. Superior root labeled as "descending hypoglossal", Inferior root labeled as "descending cervical".
Details
Innervates	sternohyoid muscle, sternothyroid muscle, omohyoid muscle
Identifiers
Latin	Ansa cervicalis, ansa hypoglossi
TA	A14.2.02.013
FMA	55142
Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy [edit on Wikidata]

The ansa cervicalis (or ansa hypoglossi in older literature) is a loop of nerves that are part of the cervical plexus. It lies superficial to the internal jugular vein in the carotid triangle. Its name means "handle of the neck" in Latin.

Branches from the ansa cervicalis innervate most of the infrahyoid muscles, including the sternothyroid muscle, sternohyoid muscle, and the omohyoid muscle. Note that the thyrohyoid muscle, which is also an infrahyoid muscle, is innervated by cervical spinal nerve 1 via the hypoglossal nerve. In addition, the ansa cervicalis does not innervate the stylohyoid muscle, which is innervated by the facial nerve.

Roots

Two roots make up the ansa cervicalis.

Ansa cervicalis

• Superior root of ansa cervicalis
• Inferior root of ansa cervicalis

Additional images

• 

  Plan of the cervical plexus.

• 

  The right brachial plexus with its short branches, viewed from in front.

• 

  Cervical plexus

• 

  Muscles, arteries and nerves of neck.Newborn dissection.

See also

• Ansa

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

External links

• Anatomy figure: 25:03-08 at Human Anatomy Online, SUNY Downstate Medical Center
• Photo and description at Tufts University
• MedicalMnemonics.com: 1042