Vertebral nerve and plexus; components, anatomical relationships, and surgical implications.

Abstract

The anatomical and functional relationships of the vertebral nerve as yet have not been clearly defined. In man, according to Van den Broek's 13 account, this nerve is formed by communicating rami derived from the sixth, seventh, and eighth cervical nerves. Potts 7 described it as a constant gray ramus associated chiefly with the seventh cervical nerve. According to his account, it extends rostrad along the medial surface of the vertebral artery and occasionally gives off branches to the eighth and the sixth cervical nerves. In one instance he observed a ramus coursing to the fifth cervical nerve. Potts' account is in general corroborated by that of Axford. 1 In a study of cervical sympathetic connections, Siwe 9 consistently found a stout ramus extending along the dorsal aspect of the vertebral artery which is connected by rami with the sixth and seventh cervical nerves. Independent of this ramus, he found