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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