Lateral Branches of Posterior Rami of Cervical Nerves (Left)

Description

The posterior rami of the cervical nerves (with exception of the first posterior ramus) divide into medial and lateral branches, lateral to the zygapophyseal joint.

The lateral branches second and third posterior rami innervate the muscles forming roof of the suboccipital triangle, as well as the longissimus capitis, semispinalis capitis, and splenius capitis muscles. The lateral branches of the fourth to eighth posterior rami innervate the muscles in the upper neck region. These include the longissimus colli, splenius colli, and iliocostalis colli muscles.