{"id":12215,"date":"2022-10-20T12:08:12","date_gmt":"2022-10-20T10:08:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.physiotutors.com\/?post_type=wiki&p=12215"},"modified":"2026-10-15T19:05:53","modified_gmt":"2026-10-15T17:05:53","slug":"accessory-nerve","status":"publish","type":"wiki","link":"https:\/\/www.physiotutors.com\/wiki\/accessory-nerve\/","title":{"rendered":"Accessory Nerve"},"featured_media":12216,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":""},"class_list":["post-12215","wiki","type-wiki","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":{"free_access":"","app_link":"","sections":[{"acf_fc_layout":"page-header-detail-page","background":{"background_image":12216,"background_image_alt_text":"Accessory Nerve"},"heading":"Accessory Nerve | Cranial Nerve XI \/ CN XI Assessment","subheading":"Screening","content_editor":"","button_type":"internal_link","button_label":"Check our shop","button_style":"button-five","button_internal_link":4646,"button_anchor":"","button_url":"","button_file":null,"label":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"submenu","links":[{"button_type":"anchor","button_label":"Learn","button_internal_link":null,"button_anchor":"section-number-3","button_url":"","button_file":null},{"button_type":"anchor","button_label":"Free sample","button_internal_link":null,"button_anchor":"section-number-5","button_url":"","button_file":null},{"button_type":"anchor","button_label":"Assessment E-Book","button_internal_link":null,"button_anchor":"section-number-6","button_url":"","button_file":null}],"dropdown_label":"Go to","button_right":{"button_type":"internal_link","button_label":"Try Premium free","button_style":"button-three","button_internal_link":26802,"button_anchor":"","button_url":"","button_file":""},"button_description":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content-content","section_options":{"vertical_alignment":"top","column_right_box":false,"column_left_width":"col-12 col-lg-4 offset"},"column_left":{"content_editor":"

Learn<\/h4>"},"column_right":{"content_editor":"

Accessory Nerve | Cranial Nerve XI \/ CN XI Assessment<\/h2>\nThe accessory nerve (CN XI) is formed by cranial and spinal contributions. The cranial roots are functionally identical to the vagus nerve. The spinal roots innervate the sternocleidomastoid and upper part of the trapezius muscle. No diagnostic accuracy studies are available on these assessments so the clinical value is unknown<\/span>\n
\n\n[embed]https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=cVuH6wL1GU0[\/embed]\n\n<\/div>\nWith the patient in sitting position inspect the neck are for atrophy. If no atrophy is apparent ask him to shrug his shoulders and not let you push the shoulders down. This assesses the upper trapezius.\u00a0<\/span>\n\nFor the sternocleidomastoid, ask the patient to rotate the head in both directions against your resistance.<\/span>\n\n \n\n \n\nLearn more about the assessment of all cranial nerves below:\n