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Atlantooccipital joint, atlantoaxial joint and cervical vertebrae dissected from behind

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

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Image #218-5
Bassett Image
Diagram Image
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Atlantooccipital joint, atlantoaxial joint and cervical vertebrae dissected from behind
Hypoglossal, accessory and vagus nerves; ventral rami of cervical nerves; internal carotid artery; internal jugular vein
The bodies of the first five cervical vertebrae have been sectioned in the median plane and their 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 internal vertebral venous plexus (18) and the longus colli and longus capitis muscles has been preserved.
  1. Superior ganglion vagus nerve (X)
  2. Accessory nerve (XI)
  3. Branches of cervical nerves I - II to longus capitis and anterior rectus capitis muscles
  4. Occipital artery
  5. Hypoglossal nerve (XII)
  6. Posterior belly digastric muscle
  7. Inferior ganglion vagus nerve (X)
  8. Internal jugular vein
  9. Internal carotid artery
  10. Superior root ansa cervicalis
  11. Upper pointer: Lesser occipital nerve Lower pointer: Unnamed cutaneous nerve
  12. Cervical fascia (deep layer of superficial lamina)
  13. Accessory nerve (XI) (note communicating branches from second and third cervical nerves)
  14. Supraclavicular nerves
  15. Levator scapulae muscle (cut across)
  16. Ventral branch cervical nerve I
  17. Ganglion cervical nerve II (cut across)
  18. Upper pointer: Anterior rectus capitis muscle Lower pointer: Anterior external vertebral venous plexus
  19. Ganglion of cervical nerve III
  20. Upper pointer: Intervertebral disc C. II- llI Lower pointer: Body of vertebra C. III
  21. Ganglion cervical nerve IV
  22. Ganglion cervical nerve V (displaced slightly inferiorly)
  23. Superior articular surface vertebra C. VI
  24. Spinal cord