![Superior 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=ODE0LDU4Mg&t=U3VwZXJpb3Igcm9vdCBvZiBhbnNhIGNlcnZpY2FsaXM&tx=814&ty=582&w=350&wk=1&s=21067dad9f8aff33f8c820c41c073960)
Superior root of ansa cervicalis
Radix superior ansae cervicalis
- Synonym: Superior limb of ansa cervicalis
- Related terms: Superior root; Superior root; Superior limb; Ansa cervicalis : Superior root; Superior limb
Definition
The superior root, also known as the descendens hypoglossi, consists of fibers originating from the C1 spinal nerve. These fibers initially travel with the hypoglossal nerve (cranial nerve XII) and later branch off to form the superior root of ansa cervicalis.
The superior root innervates the following:
Upper portions of the sternohyoid and sternothyroid muscles.
The superior root then descends in the neck and unites with the inferior root.
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.
![Superior 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=ODE0LDU4Mg&t=U3VwZXJpb3Igcm9vdCBvZiBhbnNhIGNlcnZpY2FsaXM&tx=814&ty=582&w=200&wk=1&s=df39561c2f0d78a0dc60234d7657efff "Superior root of ansa cervicalis - Cranial nerves - Hypoglossal nerve [XII] - e-Anatomy")
