508 CERVICAL NERVES. 



with the second cervical nerve, and sends some branches to 

 the muscles on the anterior part of the spine. 



The posterior branch, after communicating with the poste- 

 rior branches of the sub-occipital and the second nerves of the 

 neck, perforates the complexus muscle, and ascending upon 

 the back of the head, is distributed with the occipital artery. 



The Second Cervical Nerve, 



Sends off, from its Anterior Branch, a twig which descends 

 to the lower cervical ganglion of the sympathetic, and a con- 

 siderable ramification to the third cervical nerve. It also sends 

 off some twigs to the sterno-mastoid muscle, and others to join 

 the* accessory nerve. Some of its small ramifications pass 

 down upon the external jugular vein, and others unite with 

 the descending branch of the ninth pair of the head. A small 

 branch is also concerned in the formation of the phrenic nerve. 

 Two larger branches of this nerve wind round the posterior 

 edge of the sterno-mastoid, and are spread under the integu- 

 ments of the anterior, lateral, and posterior parts of the neck 

 and lower parts of the head ; they have a communication 

 with the portio dura of the seventh pair.* These two branches 

 are called the auricularis magnus and the superficialis colli. 

 They both receive filaments from the third cervical nerve. 

 They wind over and cross the outer surface of the sterno- 

 cleido-mastoid. The auricularis is directed to the ear, sends 

 branches to the pinna and lobus, to the integument over the 

 parotid gland and the skin behind the ear. The superficialis 

 colli passes forward in the direction of the submaxillary gland 

 over which it assists in forming a plexus and sends branches 

 to the integuments of the side of the neck, the chin, and side 

 of the face, and anastomoses with branches of the facial. The 

 posterior branch of the second cervical nerve called occipitalis 

 major, is spent upon the extensor muscles of the head and 

 neck. Another small branch from the second cervical named 



* These superficial branches have sometimes been described as coming from 

 a plexus j but they often arise directly from the second cervical nerve. 



