The Accessory Nerve: A Comprehensive Review of its Anatomy, Development, Variations, Landmarks and Clinical Considerations

Abstract

The accessory nerve continues to be a topic of much discussion regarding its exact function and in particular to its cranial roots. Recently, various surgical procedures have been devised that repurpose the accessory nerve (e.g., lengthening procedures, contralateral neurotization procedures). Currently, we continue to learn and have much to learn about this lower cranial nerve. Anat Rec, 2018. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Cranial Nerves: Phylogeny and Ontogeny

“…The morphology and clinical relevance volume includes gross anatomical and/or surgical approaches to cranial nerves III, IV, and VI (Apaydin et al, ); V including neuralgia (Ruiz‐Juretschke et al, ) and mandibular patterning (Sakaguchi et al, ); VII intracranial (Aristegui et al, ) and extracranial (Martinez Pascual et al, ); XI extracranial course (Sakamoto, ) and carotid sinus nerve (Porzionato et al, ); X focused on larynx innervation (Martin‐Oviedo et al, ); XI on topographical surgical relevance (Johal et al, ), and XII on its branching pattern (Sakamoto, ).…”

A Toast to the Cranial Nerves

“…Examples of all this morphological and functional complexity, with obvious consequences for the clinical aspects of the cranial nerves, are provided by the papers in this second volume of the Special Issue Cranial Nerves of The Anatomical Record . The papers provide perspectives about the surgical anatomy of the orbit, with special emphasis on oculomotor, trochlear, and abducens nerves (Apaydin et al, ), the importance of the variability of the facial nerve to other surrounding structures within the petrous portion of the temporal bone (Arístegui et al, ), as well as through the extra‐cranial course (Martínez Pascual et al, ), the vascular relationships of the trigeminal nerve in patients with classic trigeminal neuralgia (Ruiz‐Juretschke et al, ), the extra‐cranial course and branching pattern of the glossopharyngeal nerve (Sakamoto, ), the spatial relationships of the hypoglossal nerve with the tongue and associated muscles (Sakamoto, ), the clinical implications of the anatomy and function of the carotid sinus nerve (originated from the glossopharyngeal nerve, Porzionato et al, ), the innervation of the masticatory muscles (Akita et al, ), the morphology, embryology, surgical anatomy, and clinical manifestations of the accessory nerve (Johal et al, ), and the innervation of human larynx, describing the difficulty of carrying out laryngeal nerve reinnervation procedures (Martín‐Oviedo et al, ).…”

Cranial Nerves: Morphology and Clinical Relevance

“…This volume on morphology and clinical relevance includes gross anatomical and/or surgical approaches to cranial nerves III, IV, and VI (Apaydin et al, ); V including neuralgia (Ruiz‐Juretschke et al, ) and mandibular patterning (Sakaguchi et al, ); VII intracranial (Arístegui et al, ) and extracranial (Martínez Pascual et al, ); XI extracranial course (Sakamoto, ) and carotid sinus nerve (Porzionato et al, ); X focused on larynx innervation (Martín‐Oviedo et al, ); XI on topographical surgical relevance (Johal et al, ), and XII on its branching pattern (Sakamoto, ).…”