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Updated: Aug 7, 2026

Functional and Morphological Assessment of Diaphragm Innervation by Phrenic Motor Neurons
Published on: May 25, 2015
Imaging of muscular denervation secondary to motor cranial nerve dysfunction
S E J Connor1, N Chaudhary, S Fareedi
1Neuroradiology Department, Kings College Hospital, Denmark Hill, London SE5 9RS, UK. sejconnor@tiscali.co.uk
Abstract:
The effects of motor cranial nerve dysfunction on the computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) appearances of head and neck muscles are reviewed. Patterns of denervation changes are described and illustrated for V, VII, X, XI and XII cranial nerves. Recognition of the range of imaging manifestations, including the temporal changes in muscular appearances and associated muscular grafting or compensatory hypertrophy, will avoid misinterpretation as local disease. It will also prompt the radiologist to search for underlying cranial nerve pathology, which may be clinically occult. The relevant cranial nerve motor division anatomy will be described to enable a focussed search for such a structural abnormality.
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