This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages before signing in

Accessory nerve palsy

Authoring team

Accessory nerve palsy is paralysis of the muscles supplied by the accessory nerve, cranial nerve XI.

Clinical features include:

  • possible loss in function and muscle mass in the trapezius and the sternomastoids

During the neurological examination the function of the accessory nerve is assessed as follows:

  • sternocleidomastoid - turning of the head against a force applied by the examiner
  • trapezius - the ability to shrug against a downward force applied the examiner

Related pages

Create an account to add page annotations

Add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation, such as a web address or phone number. This information will always be displayed when you visit this page