Medical procedures are the most common cause of injury to the spinal accessory nerve.

The distal part of the spinal accessory nerve is most susceptible to injury.

Gross observation may identify other findings associated with spinal accessory nerve injury.

The function of the spinal accessory nerve is measured in the neurological examination.

Among investigators there is disagreement regarding the terminology used to describe the type of information carried by the accessory nerve.

Injury to the spinal accessory nerve is most commonly caused by medical procedures that involve the head and neck.

However, unlike all other cranial nerves, the spinal accessory nerve begins outside the skull rather than inside.

It is a raised area between the rootlets of the accessory nerve and posterolateral sulcus.

In anatomy, the accessory nerve is a nerve that controls specific muscles of the shoulder and neck.

The sternocleidomastoid is innervated by the ipsilateral accessory nerve.

Traditional descriptions of the accessory nerve divide it into two parts: a spinal part and a cranial part.

A winged scapula may also be suggestive of abnormal spinal accessory nerve function, as described above.

Only a residual swelling remained, but it was enough to squeeze the accessory nerves and disrupt all her finer sensations.

The nucleus ambiguus is classically said to provide the "cranial component" of the accessory nerve.

There is anastomosis with accessory nerve, hypoglossal nerve and sympathetic trunk.

A winged scapula due to spinal accessory nerve damage will often be exaggerated on arm abduction.

Accessory Nerve.

The accessory nerve is derived from the basal plate of the embryonic spinal segments C1-C6.

As physical examination cannot directly assess the functioning of nerves, assessment of spinal accessory nerve function is usually done indirectly.

Passing through it is the cranial portion of the accessory nerve, which blends with the vagus below the ganglion.

London notes that a failure to rapidly identify spinal accessory nerve damage may exacerbate the problem, as early intervention leads to improved outcomes.

There are several options of treatment when iatrogenic (i.e., caused by the surgeon) spinal accessory nerve damage is noted during surgery.

The upper branch accompanies the accessory nerve, and the lower branch arises near the origin of the occipital artery.

Many important structures relate to the sternocleidomastoid, including the common carotid artery, accessory nerve, and brachial plexus.

Motor function is supplied by the accessory nerve (CN XI).