Anatomical variations in the course of spinal accessory nerve in the neck triangles: A descriptive study.

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  • Additional Information
    • Source:
      Publisher: Elsevier Masson Country of Publication: France NLM ID: 9814314 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1286-0115 (Print) Linking ISSN: 12860115 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Morphologie Subsets: MEDLINE
    • Publication Information:
      Publication: : Paris : Elsevier Masson
      Original Publication: Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy [France] : l'Association des anatomistes, 1997-
    • Subject Terms:
      Accessory Nerve*/anatomy & histology ; Cadaver* ; Anatomic Variation* ; Neck Muscles*/innervation ; Neck Muscles*/anatomy & histology ; Neck*/innervation ; Neck*/anatomy & histology ; Jugular Veins*/anatomy & histology; Humans ; Female ; Male ; India ; Neck Dissection/adverse effects ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Superficial Back Muscles/innervation ; Superficial Back Muscles/anatomy & histology
    • Abstract:
      Background: Spinal Accessory Nerve (SAN), which innervates the sternocleidomastoid (SCM) and trapezius muscles, is closely related to the internal jugular vein (IJV) in the anterior triangle of the neck and passes superficially in the posterior triangle. Injury to SAN is a major complication of level II neck dissection, leading to shoulder syndrome. The present study aims to assess the course and its relation to the SCM muscle and IJV in the Tamil ethnolinguistic groups in South India.
      Methods and Materials: The anterior and posterior triangles of the neck were dissected in 28 formalin-fixed adult cadavers. The course of the SAN and the entry and exit points of SAN along the SCM muscle were assessed using the mastoid process as the reference. Recorded data was analyzed using SPSS software.
      Results: The SAN was anteriorly related to the IJV in 58.73%, posteriorly in 37.5%, and pierced through the IJV in 3.57% of the specimens. The entry and exit points of SAN from the mastoid process were 37.86±7.26mm and 48.55±8.22mm, respectively. In 86.67% of the cases, the SAN traversed through the SCM muscle, and in 13.33%, it was deep to the SCM.
      Conclusion: The present study reports that the SAN is variable in its course, and relation to SCM and IJV. Knowledge about the variant anatomy of the SAN in the triangles of the neck is important and it aids surgeons to prevent iatrogenic injuries to SAN or IJV and enhance surgical safety in neck procedures.
      (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)
    • Contributed Indexing:
      Keywords: Anatomy; Internal jugular vein; Sternocleidomastoid; Trapezius
    • Publication Date:
      Date Created: 20240214 Date Completed: 20240601 Latest Revision: 20240601
    • Publication Date:
      20240602
    • Accession Number:
      10.1016/j.morpho.2023.100761
    • Accession Number:
      38354627