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Lane Medical Library

Bassett Collection of Stereoscopic Images of Human Anatomy

Dissection of head and neck from a posterior approach

Hypoglossal, accessory and vagus nerves; anterior rami of cervical nerves; internal carotid artery; internal jugular vein

Image #81-1

KEYWORDS: Bones cartilage joints, Cervical vertebrae, Muscles and tendons, Peripheral nervous system, Vasculature.

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Dissection of head and neck from a posterior approach
Hypoglossal, accessory and vagus nerves; anterior rami of cervical nerves; internal carotid artery; internal jugular vein
The bodies of the first five cervical vertebrae have been sectioned in the midsagittal plane and the left halves removed. The cervical nerves have been retained approximately in their normal positions with the exception of the first nerve (16), which has been displaced superiorly. The anterior vertebral venous plexus (18) and longus colli and capitis muscles have been preserved.
  1. Jugular ganglion of vagus nerve (X)
  2. Accessory nerve (XI)
  3. Branches of cervical nerve I-Il to longus capitis muscle and anterior rectus capitis muscle
  4. Occipital artery
  5. Hypoglossal nerve (XII)
  6. Posterior belly of digastric muscle
  7. Nodose ganglion vagus nerve (X)
  8. Internal jugular vein
  9. Internal carotid artery
  10. Descending branch hypoglossal nerve
  11. Upper pointer: Lesser occipital nerve Lower pointer: Unnamed cutaneous nerve
  12. Superficial fascia (deep lamina of external layer)
  13. Accessory nerve (XI) (note communicating branches from second and third cervical nerves)
  14. Supraclavicular nerves
  15. Levator scapulae muscle (cut across)
  16. Anterior branch of cervical nerve I
  17. Ganglion cervical nerve II (cut across)
  18. Upper pointer: Anterior rectus capitis muscle Lower pointer: Anterior vertebral venous plexus
  19. Ganglion cervical nerve III
  20. Upper pointer: Intervertebral disc Lower pointer: Body cervical vertebra III
  21. Ganglion cervical nerve IV
  22. Ganglion cervical nerve V (displaced slightly inferiorly)
  23. Articular surface superior cervical vertebra VI
  24. Spinal cord