The ansa cervicalis is a nerve loop formed by fibres from C1-C3, lying on the internal jugular vein and supplying the infrahyoid strap muscles. Its superior root travels briefly with the hypoglossal nerve, explaining why hypoglossal nerve palsy may occasionally affect the infrahyoid muscles. The ansa cervicalis is used as the motor nerve for reinnervation in hypoglossal-to-facial nerve anastomosis procedures for facial palsy reconstruction.
| Origin | Superior root (descendens hypoglossi — C1 fibres hitchhiking on CN XII) and inferior root (C2-C3 ventral rami) |
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The ansa cervicalis is divided and its branches to the infrahyoid muscles are used as motor nerve donors in partial hypoglossal-to-facial anastomosis (the 'jump graft' technique) — connecting ansa cervicalis fibres to the facial nerve preserves hypoglossal function while providing motor reinnervation to the facial muscles.
Ansa cervicalis branches used as motor donors in jump graft hypoglossal-facial anastomosis for facial palsy reinnervation.
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