CERVICAL NERVES. 855 



curve forward, near the thyroid gland, finally entering the subscapulo-hyoideus 

 by several terminal divisions. 



Near its origin, this inferior branch of the first cervical nerve furnishes 

 collateral ramuscules to the three recti muscles of the head. Lower, it is in 

 commimication with the superior cervical ganglion and the spinal accessory 

 nerve by several filaments. At the carotid artery, it sends forwards, to the side 

 of the larynx, a very fine branch that quickly divides into two ramuscules, one 

 of which joins the hypoglossal nerve, and the other goes to the thyro-hyoid 

 muscle. It then throws off, from its convex side, several small descending 

 nerves, all of which are destined to the subscapulo-hyoid, sterno-hyoid, and 

 thyroid muscles. 



One of these filaments, joined by a ramuscule from the second pair, is dis- 

 tinguished for its great length ; it may be followed to near the sternum, where 

 it is expended in the fleshy mass common to the four mnscles that extend from 

 that bone to the larynx and os hyoides. Its constant disposition should obtain 

 for it the name of pre-cprviml 7ierve. 



Second. — This descends beneath the obliquus posticus, crossing the direction 

 of the rectus anticus major, and ramifying therein by numerous branches. We 

 specially indicate : 1. Those furnished to the latter muscle, and which are the 

 shortest and deepest 2. The atloid loop, a long, thick superficial branch, which 

 enters the anterior portion of the levator humeri, and is directed forward and 

 upward on the parotid gland, bending round the transverse process of the atlas ; 

 this ramuscule gives off filaments to the parotido-auricularis, as well as to the 

 panniculus of the face, and terminates in two branches of unequal volume, the 

 largest of which ascends on the outer side of the concha, and the other, situated 

 behind, reaches the cervico-auricular muscles. 3. Another superficial branch, 

 which passes over the jugular, near the junction of the glosso-facial, and divides 

 into two ramuscules ; these proceed forward with the submaxillary facial vein to 

 the submaxillary space, where they are distributed to the skin and subcutaneous 

 muscle. 4. Anastomosing filaments, which unite it to the two branches of the 

 spinal nerve. 5. Accessory ramuscules to the cervical filament of the facial 

 nerve. 6. Two communicating branches which pass beneath the rectus anticus 

 major : one going to the first, the other to the third pair of nerves. 7. A deep 

 branch going to join the pre-cervical filament of the first pair, and directly 

 throwing off some fine divisions to the subscapulo-hyoideus muscle. 8. A last 

 branch that arises at the intervertebral foramen, and passes at first — with the 

 vertebral artery — into the posterior foramen of the second vertebra, and after- 

 wards those of the succeeding vertebrte, to enter the inferior cervical ganglion 

 of the sympathetic nerve, receiving on its course filaments from the third, fourth, 

 fifth, sixth, and seventh pairs. 



Third, fourth, fifth, and sixth. — Each of these crosses the intertransversales 

 colli by a different interstice to that through which the corresponding superior 

 branch passes. They gain the inner face of the mastoido-humeralis, where they 

 divide into deep and superficial ramifications. 



The first are distributed to the deep muscles of the sides, and anterior part of 

 the neck and shoulders. Among them ought to be distinguished those which 

 form a communication between the four pairs, and the third with the second. 

 Veiy long and thin, these filaments lie on the side of the large muscular mass 

 formed in front of the cervical vertebrae by the rectus anticus, longus colli, and 

 scalenus muscles. There they form sometimes arches, and at other times 



