Spinal Accessory Nerve Motor

Name of test

Spinal Accessory Nerve Motor Exam

What it tests

Spinal accessory nerve


Trapezius muscle


Sternomastoid muscle


C2, C3, C4 myotome

How to do it

The trapezius muscle is tested by observing the patient shrug his or her shoulders against resistance.

The sternomastoid muscle is tested by obeservig the patient turn his or head to one side with resistance (a hand placed over the opposite temporal area).

The normal response

The patient should be shrug his or her shoulders and turn the head against resistance.

What it means if not normal

If both motor tests fail, consider a nerve lesion (or poor effort!) Isolated weakness may be from pain or problems with the particular muscle

Comments

The trapezius muscle is innervated by the spinal accessory nerve (C2, C3, C4).

The sternomastoid muscle is innervated by the spinal accessory nerve (C2, C3, C4).

Citations

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