Anatomical Variations of Sensory Nerve Branches of the Cervical Plexus

Abstract

The cervical plexus is formed by the union of the anterior branches of the cervical nerves from C1 to C4. These nerves originates sensory fibers and motor that will innervate the skin, muscles, glands and regions of the head and neck.Objective: In literature, it has been a frequent description of findings of anatomical variations of peripheral nerves of the cervical plexus. A study of descriptive type anatomical design was carried out by observing the formation of the cervical plexus of its peripheral nerve branches, and search of possible anatomic variations of these nerve branches.Methods: This study was conducted with Bilateral dissections were performed in 32 stillborns, formalin-fixed, all males with a mean age of 26.5 weeks (SD = 2.121). The fetuses were meticulously dissected and the formation of cervical plexus and its branches were observed. Results and Discussion: Among the 32 fetuses dissected, it found a variation of the CTN and an anastomosis between CTN and SCN and an anatomical variation was found in the form of anastomosis between the roots C1 to C4, forming a common trunk from which emerge some other nerve branches. Conclusion:The most frequent anatomical identifications were confirmed, some variations already described and verification of new variations of the sensory branches in the cervical plexus. The identification of the sensory branches of the cervical plexus, and anatomical variants may help in clinical, therapeutic, surgical and diagnostics.