Cervical spinal nerve 1

The cervical spinal nerve 1 (C1) is a spinal nerve of the cervical segment. C1 carries predominantly motor fibres, but also a small meningeal branch that supplies sensation to parts of the dura around the foramen magnum (via dorsal rami).

It originates from the spinal column from above the cervical vertebra 1 (C1).

The dorsal root and ganglion of the first cervical nerve may be rudimentary or entirely absent.

Muscles innervated by this nerve are:

• Geniohyoid muscle- through hypoglossal nerve
• Rectus capitis anterior muscle
• Longus capitis muscle (partly)
• Rectus capitis lateralis muscle
• Splenius cervicis muscle (partly)
• Rectus capitis posterior major muscle
• levator scapulae muscle (partly)
• Thyrohyoid muscle – through hypoglossal nerve
• Omohyoid – through ansa cervicalis
• Sternohyoid – through ansa cervicalis
• Sternothyroid - through ansa cervicalis