Dissection of head and neck from a posterior approach

Nerve supply to left splenius capitis and cervicis muscles

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Image #79-2

Dissection of head and neck from a posterior approach

Nerve supply to left splenius capitis and cervicis muscles

The muscles have been cut from their spinal origins (the splenius capitis muscle also cut near its cranial insertion) and reflected laterally. A portion of the fascia which covered the deep surface of the splenius capitis muscle has been preserved. The fascia (15) of the semispinalis capitis muscle (16) has been retained only in a small area.

1. Occipital artery
2. Mastoid process
3. Superior oblique capitis muscle
4. Suboccipital lymph node
5. Splenius capitis muscle (reflected)
6. Aberrant muscular slip from longissimus capitis muscle to semispinalis capitis muscle
7. Descending branch occipital artery
8. Muscular branch of posterior branch cervical nerve II
9. Longus capitis muscle
10. Splenius cervicis muscle (reflected)
11. Muscular branch of posterior branch cervical nerve IV
12. Longissimus cervicis muscle
13. Greater occipital nerve
14. Third occipital nerve right
15. Fascia of semispinalis capitis muscle
16. Semispinalis capitis muscle
17. Third occipital nerve left
18. Trapezius muscle right
19. Nuchal ligament
20. Aponeurosis of origin of splenius capitis muscle (cut across)
21. Muscular branches of posterior branch cervical nerve III
22. Cutaneous branch of posterior branch cervical nerve IV