Anatomical Study of Accessory Nerve Innervation Relating to Functional Neck Dissection

Selective activation of neuromuscular compartments within the human trapezius muscle

“…Moreover, the observed selective activation of the lower subdivisions in all subjects may be due to the selective innervation of the rami trapezii of the cervical plexus to only the lower trapezius subdivisions (Kierner et al, 2001). The different dexterity in selective activation of the trapezius subdivisions between the subjects may be explained by the large interindividual differences in branching of the accessory nerve innervating the different subdivisions of the human trapezius muscle (Shiozaki et al, 2007), or by individual differences in the ability to alter the strength of common inputs via spinal or supraspinal pathways to the motoneurons (Semmler, 2002).…”

“…Moreover, large individual differences in motor control of the trapezius subdivisions are expected due to the large inter-individual differences in branching of the accessory nerve innervating the different subdivisions of the human trapezius muscle (Shiozaki et al, 2007).…”

Surgical Treatment of Winged Scapula

“…Surgery in the posterior cervical triangle such as lymph node biopsy, benign mass excision, or radical neck dissection places the nerve at risk. Only one case of trapezius palsy in our cohort occurred secondary to radical neck dissection, which may be in part attributable to alterations in surgical techniques to preserve the spinal accessory nerve [4,33,35]. The spinal accessory nerve is also susceptible to injury from traumatic causes.…”

Iatrogenic spinal accessory nerve injury in children

“…The sensory branches of the greater auricular and transverse cervical nerves are derived from the cervical plexus. The greater auricular nerve and the superficial cervical vein, a branch of the external jugular vein, may both be used as anatomical landmarks for identifying the accessory nerve in this region [10][11][12]. The spinal accessory nerve may be identified just behind the greater auricular nerve at the posterior edge of the sternocleidomastoid muscle [10].…”