90 A MANUAL OF ANATOMY. 



major; from the second, to the sternomastoid ; from the 

 third, to the scalenus medius and the levator anguli scapulae ; 

 from the fourth, to the same. 



The Branches of the Cervical Plexus. 



(1) The branch to the hypoglossal : After joining the 

 hypoglossal nerve this branch passes with it for a short dis- 

 tance. Some of the fibres continue onward to supply the 

 geniohyoid, thyrohyoid, and anterior belly of the omo- 

 hyoid. The greater part of the fibres leave the hypo- 

 glossal nerve as the descendens hypoglossi, form a loop 

 below with the (5) communicantes hypoglossi, and supply 

 the posterior belly of the omohyoid, sternohyoid, and sterno- 

 thyroid muscles. 



(2) The small occipital : This issues at the middle of the 

 posterior border of the sternomastoid muscle along with 

 the superficial cervical and the great auricular, turns 

 upward parallel with this border of the sternomastoid to 

 supply branches to the upper portion of the ear (auricular), 

 to the skin over the mastoid process (mastoid), and to the 

 scalp (occipital). 



(3) The great auricular : This is found at the middle of 

 the posterior border of the sternomastoid, passes vertically 

 upward to supply the region of the parotid gland (facial), 

 lower back part of the ear (auricular), and the mastoid 

 region (mastoid). 



(4) The superficial cervical : Comes from the middle of 

 the posterior margin of the sternomastoid, passes forward 

 transversely across the muscle and supplies the platysma, 

 the skin of the antero-lateral region of the neck, and forms 

 a loose plexiform interlacement with the inframaxillary 

 branch of the facial. 



(5) The communicantes hypoglossi : The branch from 

 the second passes downward, joins that from the third, the 



