Cervical Plexus

lesser occipital nerve

superficial, sensory, cervical - C2 - skin of scalp posterior and superior to ear

great auricular nerve

superficial, sensory, cervical - C2 to C3 - skin anterior, inferior, and over ear and paratoid glands

transverse cervical nerve

superficial, sensory, cervical - C2 to C3 - skin over anterior aspect of neck

supraclavicular nerve

superficial, sensory, cervical - C3 to C4 - skin over superior portion of chest and shoulder

ansa cervicalis nerve

deep, motor, cervical - C1 to C3 - divides into superior and inferior roots: superior - infrahyoid and geniohyoid muscles of neck; inferior - infrahyoid muscles of neck

segmental branches

deep, motor, cervical - C1 to C5 - prevertebral (deep) muscles of neck, levator scapulae, and middle scalene muscles

phrenic nerve

deep, motor, cervical - C3 to C5 - diaphragm - "C3, C4, C5 stay alive"

cervical plexus

formed by roots (anterior rami); first four cervical nerves - C1 to C4; supplies skin and muscles of the head, neck and superior part of shoulders and chest; phrenic nerves supply motor fibers to diaphragm; branches run parallel to two cranial nerves (accessory nerve, hypoglossal nerve)

injuries to phrenic nerve

stops breathing; nerve impulses no longer being sent to diaphragm