Transversus Colli Nerve, Lateral View

Description

Arising from the cervical plexus at the posterior border of the sternocleidomastoid, the transversus colli nerve (transverse cervical nerve, C2 to C3) courses anteriorly in a near horizontal path across the lateral neck. Its superficial branches travel deep to the platysma and then radiate over the anterior triangle to supply cutaneous sensation to the anterolateral neck. In this left lateral male view, the nerve sits superficial to the carotid sheath and infrahyoid strap muscles, with the mandible and skull base superiorly and the cervical vertebrae providing a posterior bony reference. Clear surface landmarks. For clinicians, this trajectory explains why transverse cervical nerve fibers are routinely affected in incisions that cross the anterior border of sternocleidomastoid, including thyroidectomy, carotid endarterectomy exposure, and cervical lymph node biopsy. The illustration also helps distinguish the sensory transversus colli from nearby motor pathways in the same field, such as the spinal accessory nerve in the posterior triangle, a common structure at risk during neck dissection. When planning a superficial cervical plexus block, the nerve’s emergence near Erb’s point and its spread under platysma define the plane you aim to anesthetize. Medical educators can drop this plate straight into head and neck anatomy teaching on the cervical plexus, surface anatomy of the sternocleidomastoid, and cutaneous innervation maps of the neck. It also fits surgical anatomy manuals and ENT, endocrine, and vascular surgery curricula where iatrogenic sensory loss and neuropathic pain after lateral neck approaches need a precise anatomic explanation. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.