Cranial Nerve XI - Accessory Nerve

Last updated: Jan 31st, 2025

The accessory nerves, identified as cranial nerve XI, are the eleventh pairing of cranial nerves. These pairs are sometimes called spinal accessories. They are numbered with the Roman numeral XI to designate their place in the cranial nerve order. They stem from the medulla oblongata (between the pons at the base of the brain stem and the spinal cord) and some originate in the spinal cord itself, so they have both cranial and spinal branches. Each cranial branch joins a nerve that carries impulses to muscles of the soft palate, pharynx and larynx. The spinal branches pass down into the neck and back.