An Anatomical Study on the Variations of the First Cervical Dorsal Root

ABSTRACT

To investigate the variations of the dorsal root of the first cervical nerve and its anastomosis with the spinal accessory nerve, a total of 74 anatomical dissections has been performed in 37 cases of Korean human fetus. The anastomotic connections between the dorsal roots and the spinal accessory nerve have fitted into five main types. The central course of the sensory fibers of the first cervical nerve and the neurosurgical significance of the variations have been discussed. Often the only pathway for the sensory fibers of the first cervical nerve to reach the spinal cord is through the rootlets of the spinal accessory nerve.