Upper limb
Transverse cervical artery
Arteria transversa cervicis
- Origin
- Branch of the thyrocervical trunk
- Insertion
- Crosses the phrenic nerve, scalenus anterior, and brachial plexus to reach the anterior border of trapezius
- Function
- Supplies trapezius, levator scapulae, and deep posterior cervical musculature
- Innervation
- Sympathetic vasomotor fibers
- Movement & chain
- Traverses the posterior cervical triangle horizontally
- Palpation
- Not distinctly palpable through cervical fascia
- Clinical
- Encountered and preserved during posterior cervical neck dissection (level V lymph nodes)
- Segmental innervation
- C5–C7 segments
- In clinical practice
- Vascular pedicle for myocutaneous trapezius flaps used in oncological reconstruction
- Region in the model
- Upper limb