Neurons of origin of the internal ramus of the rabbit accessory nerve: localization in the dorsal nucleus of the vagus nerve and the nucleus retroambigualis.

The neurons of origin of the internal ramus of the rabbit accessory nerve were identified in the dorsal nucleus of the vagus nerve, using bilateral injections of horseradish peroxidase into the inferior vagal ganglion, soft palate, and pharynx, which were preceded by different combinations of the unilateral intracranial severings of the rootlets of the vagus and glossopharyngeal nerves, those of the cranial root of the accessory nerve, and the trunk of its spinal root. The neurons of origin occupied the caudal four-fifths of the dorsal vagal nucleus extending from about 1.0 mm rostral to the obex as far caudally as the second cervical spinal segment, with their number being about half the total number of neurons of the nucleus. Although considerably fewer, they were also located in the nucleus retroambigualis of the caudal half of the first cervical spinal segment and the second segment. Axons of most internal ramus neurons traversed the rootlets of the cranial accessory root. Axons of the few neurons located more caudally than about 1.0 mm caudal to the obex emerged from the upper cervical spinal cord to run along the trunk of the spinal accessory root before finally joining the internal ramus; caudal to the midlevel of the first cervical segment, the dorsal vagal nucleus and the nucleus retroambigualis contained neurons whose axons followed only that course.