Medial Branches of Posterior Rami of Cervical Nerves (Left)

Description

The posterior rami of each cervical nerve (with exception of first cervical nerve) divide into medial and lateral branches lateral to the zygapophyseal joints.

The medial branches supply motor innervation to a number of muscles including the obliquus capitis inferior, semispinalis capitis, multifidus, interspinales muscles. Additionally, it receives sensory information from the zygapophyseal joints of the cervical vertebral column.

The medial branches of the posterior rami of the cervical nerves continue as posterior cutaneous branches, which receive sensory innervation from the scalp and skin around the ear and posterior neck.