Head and Neck Innervation and Musculature Study Guide

Vocabulary flashcards covering the muscle innervations, nerve functional classifications, and anatomical targets of the head, neck, and thorax based on the study checklist.

Sternocleidomastoid

A muscle receiving somatic motor innervation from CN XI (spinal accessory nerve).

Trapezius

A muscle receiving somatic motor innervation from CN XI (spinal accessory nerve).

Platysma

A muscle receiving somatic motor innervation from CN VII (facial nerve).

Omohyoid

An infrahyoid muscle receiving somatic motor innervation from the ansa cervicalis.

Sternohyoid

An infrahyoid muscle receiving somatic motor innervation from the ansa cervicalis.

Sternothyroid

An infrahyoid muscle receiving somatic motor innervation from the ansa cervicalis.

Thyrohyoid

A muscle receiving somatic motor innervation from C1 fibers via CN XII (hypoglossal nerve).

Cricothyroid

A muscle receiving somatic motor innervation from the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve.

Digastric, anterior belly

A suprahyoid muscle belly receiving somatic motor innervation from CN V3 via the nerve to mylohyoid.

Digastric, posterior belly

A suprahyoid muscle belly receiving somatic motor innervation from CN VII.

Anterior scalene

A muscle receiving somatic motor innervation from the anterior rami of cervical spinal nerves.

Pectoralis major

A muscle receiving somatic motor innervation from the medial and lateral pectoral nerves.

Great auricular nerve (C2–C3)

A somatic sensory nerve providing sensory innervation to the skin over the ear, parotid region, and angle of the jaw.

Lesser occipital nerve (C2)

A somatic sensory nerve providing sensory innervation to the skin behind the ear and lateral occiput.

Transverse cervical nerve (C2–C3)

A somatic sensory nerve supplying the skin of the anterior neck.

Supraclavicular nerve (C3–C4)

A somatic sensory nerve providing cutaneous innervation to the skin over the clavicle, shoulder, and upper chest.

Spinal accessory nerve (CN XI)

A somatic motor nerve supplying the sternocleidomastoid and trapezius muscles.

Ansa cervicalis (C1–C3)

A somatic motor nerve loop that innervates most infrahyoid muscles.

Hypoglossal nerve (CN XII)

A somatic motor nerve supplying tongue muscles and carrying C1 fibers to the thyrohyoid.

Phrenic nerve (C3–C5)

A nerve providing somatic motor innervation to the diaphragm as well as sensory innervation from certain thoracic structures.

Vagus nerve (CN X)

A cranial nerve providing motor innervation to the pharynx and larynx, and parasympathetic innervation to the viscera.

Superior laryngeal nerve

A sensory and somatic motor nerve providing sensory innervation above the vocal folds and motor innervation to the cricothyroid via its external branch.

Internal laryngeal nerve

A visceral sensory branch of the superior laryngeal nerve providing sensation above the vocal folds.

External laryngeal nerve

A somatic motor branch of the superior laryngeal nerve supplying the cricothyroid muscle.

Recurrent laryngeal nerve

A somatic motor and sensory nerve providing motor innervation to most intrinsic laryngeal muscles and sensation below the vocal folds.