The transverse cervical nerve is a sensory nerve of the head and neck region. It is a branch of the cervical plexus.
It supplies sensation to the skin of the anterolateral neck.
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Course
The transverse cervical nerve originates from the cervical plexus of the neck, containing fibres from spinal nerves C2 and C3.
It emerges at the posterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle (known as Erb’s point – the nerve point of the neck).
From there, it travels anteriorly, winding around the sternocleidomastoid. As it approaches the anterior border of the muscle, it moves superficially and pierces the deep cervical fascia to enter the subcutaneous tissue of the neck.
It terminates by dividing into superior and inferior branches which innervate the skin of the anterior neck.
Fig 1
The transverse cervical nerve emerges at the nerve point of the neck
Sensory Function
The transverse cervical nerve gives rise to superior and inferior branches which supply the skin of the anterior neck:
- Superior branches – supply the skin of the upper anterolateral neck.
- Inferior branches – supply the skin of the lower anterolateral neck