11th Accessory nerve
1. The accessory nerve is the 11th cranial nerve and is purely motor.
2. It consists of two roots: the cranial root and the spinal root.
3. The spinal root's fibers originate in the spinal accessory nucleus, a cluster of
neurons located in the lateral aspect of the anterior horn of the spinal cord,
spanning from spinal levels C1 to C5. The axons of these motor neurons emerge from
the lateral part of the spinal cord between the anterior and posterior roots of the
spinal nerve. They then ascend through the vertebral canal to enter the skull via
the foramen magnum as the spinal root of the accessory nerve.
4. The motor neurons of the cranial root are situated in the nucleus ambiguus, with
axons emerging from the medulla just posterior to the olive.
5. Both the cranial and spinal roots unite to exit the skull through the jugular
foramen.
6. After exiting the cranial cavity, the two roots separate again.
7. The cranial root merges with the vagus nerve just below its inferior ganglion
and is distributed through the branches of the vagus to various muscles, including
those of the palate (excluding the tensor palati), muscles of the pharynx
(excluding the stylopharyngeus), and muscles of the larynx.
8. The spinal root of the accessory nerve, after detaching from the cranial part,
continues on its own, moving backward and downward to supply two specific muscles
in the neck: the sternocleidomastoid muscle and the trapezius muscle.
9. The spinal root of the accessory nerve, once separated from the cranial part, is
referred to as the spinal accessory nerve.
12th Hypoglossal nerve
Certainly, here's the anatomy of the hypoglossal nerve broken down into points:
1. The hypoglossal nerve is the 12th cranial nerve, and it serves a purely motor
function.
2. Its motor fibers originate from the hypoglossal nucleus located in the medulla
of the brainstem.
3. The hypoglossal nerve arises on the ventral aspect of the medulla, positioned
between the pyramid and the olive. At this level, it is closely related to the
vertebral artery, which lies anterior to the nerve.
4. The nerve exits the cranial cavity through the hypoglossal canal.
5. At the level of the angle of the mandible, the nerve curves forward, crossing in
front of the internal and external carotid arteries, and the loop of the 1st part
of the lingual artery. It reaches the posterior margin of the hyoglossal muscle.
6. The hypoglossal nerve runs on the superficial surface of the hyoglossus muscle
and gives off branches to three of the four extrinsic muscles of the tongue: a
branch to the hyoglossus muscle, a branch to the styloglossus muscle, and a branch
to the genioglossus muscle. It also gives branches to all the intrinsic muscles of
the tongue.
7. Some of the fibers from the C1 spinal nerve travel along the hypoglossal nerve
to supply the geniohyoid and thyrohyoid muscles.
8. Additionally, some fibers from the C1 spinal nerve have a recurrent course,
traveling along the hypoglossal nerve to enter the cranial cavity through the
hypoglossal canal as the meningeal branch. This branch supplies the dura mater of
the posterior cranial fossa.
9. As the hypoglossal nerve crosses the internal carotid artery, it gives off the
superior root of ansa cervicalis.
