![Inferior root of ansa cervicalis - Cranial nerves - Hypoglossal nerve [XII] - e-Anatomy](https://cdn.imaios.cn/i/imaios-images/web/images/eanatomy/modules/nerfs-craniens-anatomie/images/v2/b08d77dcc6846d98be7b0546020a849cdef5ad49b679aaeda6e45b9cef9ac748?ar=640:670&auto=format,compress&bg=FFFFFF&fit=crop&p64=ODcwLDg5Ng&t=SW5mZXJpb3Igcm9vdCBvZiBhbnNhIGNlcnZpY2FsaXM&tx=870&ty=896&w=350&wk=1&s=327b6d3033c11c491f8bba1c8588eec5)
Inferior root of ansa cervicalis
Radix inferior ansae cervicalis
- Synonym: Inferior limb of ansa cervicalis
- Related terms: Inferior root; Inferior root; Inferior limb; Ansa cervicalis : Inferior root; Inferior limb
Definition
The inferior root of ansa cervicalis, referred to as the descendens cervicalis, is composed of fibers from the C2 and C3 spinal nerves. These fibers descend through the neck to join with the superior root, completing the characteristic loop of the ansa cervicalis.
The inferior root provides innervation to the following:
The lower portions of the sternohyoid and sternothyroid muscles.
References
Kikuta S, Jenkins S, Kusukawa J, Iwanaga J, Loukas M, Tubbs RS. Ansa cervicalis: a comprehensive review of its anatomy, variations, pathology, and surgical applications. Anat Cell Biol. 2019 Sep;52(3):221-225.
![Inferior root of ansa cervicalis - Cranial nerves - Hypoglossal nerve [XII] - e-Anatomy](https://cdn.imaios.cn/i/imaios-images/web/images/eanatomy/modules/nerfs-craniens-anatomie/images/v2/b08d77dcc6846d98be7b0546020a849cdef5ad49b679aaeda6e45b9cef9ac748?ar=640:670&auto=format,compress&bg=FFFFFF&fit=crop&p64=ODcwLDg5Ng&t=SW5mZXJpb3Igcm9vdCBvZiBhbnNhIGNlcnZpY2FsaXM&tx=870&ty=896&w=200&wk=1&s=955606e2a9d03dc0893aae97804b818e "Inferior root of ansa cervicalis - Cranial nerves - Hypoglossal nerve [XII] - e-Anatomy")
