Head and neck: superficial cervical plexus: practice question

A Anatomy question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Anatomy · Head and neck: superficial cervical plexus

Sample item

An anaesthetist infiltrates local anaesthetic at the midpoint of the posterior border of sternocleidomastoid to block the superficial cervical plexus. Which set of nerves emerges at this point?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

B. Lesser occipital, great auricular, transverse cervical, supraclavicular

The cutaneous branches of the cervical plexus (C2 to C4) wind round the posterior border of sternocleidomastoid at about its midpoint (the nerve point of the neck, or Erb's point): lesser occipital, great auricular, transverse cervical and supraclavicular nerves. Together they supply the skin of the neck, ear region and shoulder tip.

Option by option

  • A. Accessory nerve, long thoracic nerve, phrenic nerve and suprascapular nerve

    The accessory nerve crosses the posterior triangle, but the long thoracic and phrenic nerves do not emerge here as cutaneous nerves.

  • B. Lesser occipital, great auricular, transverse cervical, supraclavicular (correct)

    Correct. These four cutaneous nerves emerge at the nerve point of the neck.

  • C. Hypoglossal, vagus, glossopharyngeal and accessory nerves

    These cranial nerves leave through skull foramina and do not emerge at the posterior border of sternocleidomastoid.

  • D. Suprascapular, dorsal scapular, thoracodorsal and axillary nerves

    These are branches of the brachial plexus supplying shoulder and back muscles.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More Anatomy questions

Questions about this Anatomy question

What is the answer to this Anatomy question?

The best answer is B, Lesser occipital, great auricular, transverse cervical, supraclavicular. The cutaneous branches of the cervical plexus (C2 to C4) wind round the posterior border of sternocleidomastoid at about its midpoint (the nerve point of the neck, or Erb's point): lesser occipital, great auricular, transverse cervical and supraclavicular nerves.

Why is "Accessory nerve, long thoracic nerve, phrenic nerve and suprascapular…" not the answer?

The accessory nerve crosses the posterior triangle, but the long thoracic and phrenic nerves do not emerge here as cutaneous nerves.

Why is "Hypoglossal, vagus, glossopharyngeal and accessory nerves" not the answer?

These cranial nerves leave through skull foramina and do not emerge at the posterior border of sternocleidomastoid.

Why is "Suprascapular, dorsal scapular, thoracodorsal and axillary nerves" not the answer?

These are branches of the brachial plexus supplying shoulder and back muscles.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Head and neck: superficial cervical plexus in Anatomy. Together they supply the skin of the neck, ear region and shoulder tip.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Head and neck: superficial cervical plexus?

Learn every nerve by its route, its muscles and what a lesion looks like at the bedside. That one habit answers a large share of questions. Then use the flashcards and the other Anatomy questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.