The Nervous System 139 
and sends a small branch to the levator scapule 
superficialis muscle. 
V. The ventral branch of this nerve sends 
branches to the ventral muscles of the neck, to the 
levator scapulez superficialis; a large branch goes 
to the sterno-mastoid; and the rest of the nerve 
distributes itself in the sphincter colli and the 
integument and ventral muscles of the neck. 
VI. The sixth nerve distributes itself to the 
ventral musculature and to the integument of 
the neck, and sends a fairly strong branch to the 
levator scapulz superficialis muscle and to the 
most anterior part of the collo-thoraci-supra- 
scapularis profundus muscle. 
VII. The seventh nerve is the first to enter, 
by a small branch, into the brachial plexus (Figure 
31). It also sends a branch to the ventral muscles 
and the integument of the neck, and three branches 
to various shoulder muscles. 
VIII. The ventral branch of the eighth nerve 
(Figure 31) is the second largest nerve of the 
brachial plexus. It gives some twigs to the ven- 
tral muscles and then gives one or two nerves to 
the collo-thoraci-suprascapularis profundus and the 
serratus superficialis muscles. The rest of the 
nerve divides into an inferior and a superior branch 
which unite with the ninth nerve. 
IX. The ninth and tenth nerves are the largest 
of the brachial plexus. The former, after giving 
off some twigs to the ventral musculature and to 
