SINCE in all classes of vertebrates the tongue muscles are innervated by nerve XII, a segmental nerve of the occipital region, it is usually argued on this criterion alone that they originate from occipital myotome tissue. Descriptive evidence in support of this generalization is, however, far from adequate. The most complete accounts that exist refer to one amphibian and two reptile species. I...

Although surgical procedures are often performed over the posterior head and neck, surgical landmarks for avoiding the cutaneous nerves in this region are surprisingly lacking in the literature. Twelve adult cadaveric specimens underwent dissection of the cutaneous nerves overlying the posterior head and neck, and mensuration was made between these structures and easily identifiable surrounding...

BACKGROUND Chronic neck pain after whiplash injury is caused by cervical zygapophysial joints in 50% of patients. Diagnostic blocks of nerves supplying the joints are performed using fluoroscopy. The authors' hypothesis was that the third occipital nerve can be visualized and blocked with use of an ultrasound-guided technique. METHODS In 14 volunteers, the authors placed a needle ultrasound-g...

Denial of an insurance claim for occipital nerve blocks raises questions about utilization review by insurance companies and peer reviewers. Who reviews the reviewers? CLINICAL HISTORY A 40-year-old man presented with a 3-week history of right-sided more than left nuchal-occipital and parietal throbbing pain of moderate intensity daily on an intermittent basis and lasting for several hours. The...

INTRODUCTION Posterior C1-C2 fusion is a highly successful treatment for atlantoaxial instability and other pathologies of the cervical spine, with fusion rates approaching 95%-100%. However, poor visualization of the lateral masses of C1 secondary to the course of the C2 nerve root along with blood loss from the venous plexus and compression of the C2 nerve from lateral mass screws are technic...

In 2004 cervicogenic headache was introduced into ICD-10 classification. The reasons of cervicogenic headache are changes within bones, soft tissue and nervous structures of cervical spine section. The pain may spread to the neck, occipital area of skull, area of jaw and eyeballs, and arms. There are many theories trying to explain spreading of the pain outside the area innervated by C1, C2 and...