Cervical nerves
Cervical nerves
Cervical nerves (pronunciation: /ˈsɜːrvɪkəl nɜːrvz/) are the nerves that emerge from the cervical vertebrae in the spinal cord. They are part of the peripheral nervous system and are responsible for transmitting signals between the brain and various parts of the body.
Etymology
The term "cervical" is derived from the Latin word "cervix," which means "neck." The term "nerve" comes from the Latin "nervus," meaning "sinew, tendon, nerve."
Anatomy
There are eight pairs of cervical nerves, labeled C1 through C8. They emerge from the spinal cord through the intervertebral foramina of the cervical vertebrae. Each cervical nerve is associated with a specific region of the body and has a unique function.
- C1 nerve (C1): The first cervical nerve, also known as the suboccipital nerve, provides motor innervation to muscles at the base of the skull.
- C2 nerve (C2): The second cervical nerve provides sensory innervation to the upper part of the neck and the back of the head.
- C3 nerve (C3): The third cervical nerve provides sensory innervation to the lower part of the neck and the upper part of the shoulder.
- C4 nerve (C4): The fourth cervical nerve provides sensory innervation to the upper part of the shoulder and the lower part of the neck.
- C5 nerve (C5): The fifth cervical nerve provides motor innervation to the deltoid muscle and the biceps.
- C6 nerve (C6): The sixth cervical nerve provides motor innervation to the wrist extensor muscles.
- C7 nerve (C7): The seventh cervical nerve provides motor innervation to the triceps.
- C8 nerve (C8): The eighth cervical nerve provides sensory innervation to the little finger and the ring finger.
Related terms
- Brachial plexus: A network of nerves formed by the lower four cervical nerves and the first thoracic nerve. It provides motor and sensory innervation to the upper limb.
- Dermatome: An area of skin supplied by a single spinal nerve.
- Myotome: A group of muscles primarily innervated by a single spinal nerve.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Cervical nerves
- Wikipedia's article - Cervical nerves
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