Accessory Nerve Diseases (also known as Accessory Nerve Disease, Cranial Nerve Eleven Diseases): Diseases of the eleventh cranial (spinal accessory) nerve. This nerve originates from motor neurons in the lower medulla (accessory portion of nerve) and upper spinal cord (spinal portion of nerve). The two components of th

NIH MeSH · D020436Diseases

Accessory Nerve Diseases

Also known asAccessory Nerve Disease · Cranial Nerve Eleven Diseases · Cranial Nerve Eleven Disorders · Cranial Nerve XI Diseases · Eleventh Cranial Nerve Disease · Spinal Accessory Nerve Diseases

Definition

Diseases of the eleventh cranial (spinal accessory) nerve. This nerve originates from motor neurons in the lower medulla (accessory portion of nerve) and upper spinal cord (spinal portion of nerve). The two components of the nerve join and exit the skull via the jugular foramen, innervating the sternocleidomastoid and trapezius muscles, which become weak or paralyzed if the nerve is injured. The nerve is commonly involved in MOTOR NEURON DISEASE, and may be injured by trauma to the posterior triangle of the neck.

MeSH classification

  • C10.292.175

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Related concepts

Abducens Nerve Diseases

Diseases of the sixth cranial (abducens) nerve or its nucleus in the pons. The nerve may be injured along its course in the pons, intracrani…

Abducens Nerve Injury

Traumatic injury to the abducens, or sixth, cranial nerve. Injury to this nerve results in lateral rectus muscle weakness or paralysis. The …

Accessory Nerve Injuries

Traumatic injuries to the ACCESSORY NERVE. Damage to the nerve may produce weakness in head rotation and shoulder elevation.

Adie Syndrome

A syndrome characterized by a TONIC PUPIL that occurs in combination with decreased lower extremity reflexes. The affected pupil will respon…

Common questions about Accessory Nerve Diseases

What does Accessory Nerve Diseases mean in medicine?
Diseases of the eleventh cranial (spinal accessory) nerve. This nerve originates from motor neurons in the lower medulla (accessory portion of nerve) and upper spinal cord (spinal portion of nerve). The two components of the nerve join and exit the skull via the jugular foramen, innervating the sternocleidomastoid and trapezius muscles, which become weak or paralyzed if the nerve is injured. The nerve is commonly involved in MOTOR NEURON DISEASE, and may be injured by trauma to the posterior triangle of the neck. This definition is taken from the National Library of Medicine's MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) 2026 release, which is the standard vocabulary used to index PubMed and most medical literature.
Is Accessory Nerve Diseases known by any other names?
Yes. Accessory Nerve Diseases is also referred to as Accessory Nerve Disease, Cranial Nerve Eleven Diseases, Cranial Nerve Eleven Disorders, Cranial Nerve XI Diseases in different clinical, research and patient-facing contexts. The MeSH descriptor groups all of these synonyms under a single canonical concept so research and records stay consistent.
Where does Accessory Nerve Diseases sit in the medical classification?
Accessory Nerve Diseases falls under the broader medical category "Diseases" in the MeSH hierarchy (tree numbers: C10.292.175). Browsing the related concepts on this page takes you to neighbouring topics in the same branch of medicine.
Where can I get a plain-language explanation of Accessory Nerve Diseases?
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Source: NIH MeSH 2026 (D020436) — National Library of Medicine, public domain. View official MeSH record ↗