descendens hypoglossi

su·pe·ri·or root of ansa cervicalis

[TA] the fibers that arise from the first and second cervical nerves, accompany the hypoglossal nerve, then branch off to meet the inferior root in the ansa cervicalis; they innervate the infrahyoid muscles. Synonym(s): radix superior ansae cervicalis [TA], superior limb of ansa cervicalis ☆ , descendens hypoglossi, descending branch of hypoglossal nerve

descendens hypoglossi

A branch of the hypoglossal nerve occurring at the point at which the nerve curves around the occipital artery, which passes down obliquely across (sometimes within) the sheath of the carotid vessels to form a loop just below the middle of the neck with branches of the second and third cervical nerves. See also: descendens