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- Title
The course of lower cranial nerves within the neck: a cadaveric dissection study.
- Authors
Yigit, Enes; Dursun, Engin; Omeroglu, Elif; Sunter, Ahmet Volkan; Edizer, Deniz Tuna; Terzi, Suat; Coskun, Zerrin Ozergin; Demirci, Munir
- Abstract
Purpose: To evaluate the course of lower cranial nerves (CNs) within the neck in relation to surrounding structures and anatomic landmarks via a cadaveric dissection study.Methods: A total of 70 neck dissections (31 bilateral, 8 unilateral) were performed on 39 adult fresh cadavers [mean (SD) age: 38.5 (11.2) years, 29 male, 10 female] to identify the course of lower CNs [spinal accessory nerve (SAN), vagus nerve and hypoglossal nerve] within the neck in relation to surrounding structures [internal jugular vein (IJV), common carotid artery (CCA)] and distance to anatomical landmarks (cricoid cartilage, hyoid bone, digastric muscle).Results: SAN travelled most commonly anterior to IJV (51.4%) at the level of jugular foramen, while travelling lateral to IJV at the post belly of digastric (55.7%) and inferior to digastric muscle (90%) in most neck dissections. Vagus nerve travelled lateral to CCA in majority (94.3%) of dissections, while medial (2.9%), posterolateral (1.4%) and posterior (1.4%) positions were also noted. Average distance of hypoglossal nerve was 27.7 (9.7) mm to carotid bifurcation, 9.3 (3.9) mm to hyoid bone, and 54.7 (18.0) mm to the inferior border of cricoid cartilage.Conclusion: In conclusion, our findings indicate that anatomic variations are not rare in the course of lower CNs within the neck in relation to adjacent structures, and awareness of these variations together with knowledge of distance to certain anatomic landmarks may help the surgeon to identify lower CNs during neck surgery and prevent potential nerve injuries.
- Subjects
CRANIAL nerves; HYPOGLOSSAL nerve; DISSECTION; NECK diseases; NERVOUS system injuries; SURGERY
- Publication
European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, 2018, Vol 275, Issue 10, p2541
- ISSN
0937-4477
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s00405-018-5091-4