Transversus colli nerve
The nervus transversus colli ("transverse neck nerve") is a spinal cord nerve from the neck part of the spinal cord and is responsible for the sensitive supply of the skin of the throat.
Its original fibers arise in the second and third neck segments (C2 and C3) and participate in the formation of the cervical plexus ( plexus cervicalis ). After being isolated from the neck plexus, it pulls around the sternocleidomastoid muscle and perforates the deep neck fascia at the Erb point . Then it runs under the platysma together with the arteria transversa colli horizontally over the neck and divides into anterior and posterior branches.
The transversus colli nerve is a purely sensory nerve and innervates the lateral and anterior skin of the neck.
The nerve is particularly at risk in operations on the neck, for example in the operation of a carotid stenosis .