Sinuvertebral nerve

Last revised by Henry Knipe on 5 Jul 2022

The sinuvertebral nerve, also known as the recurrent meningeal nerve, or the recurrent nerve of Luschka, is a branch of the primary ventral ramus and grey ramus communicans in the intervertebral foramen. It enters the spinal canal and supplies the posterior portion of the annulus of the intervertebral disc, the posterior longitudinal ligament and the periosteum of the vertebral body 1.

It has been touted that the recurrent meningeal nerve has a role in discogenic pain, and may contribute up to 39% of low back pain. It has been reported that irritation of the C1-3 nerves is the most common cause of cervicogenic headaches and also occipital neuralgia ref.

The German anatomist Hubert von Luschka (1820-1875) first described this nerve in 1850. He was one of the first anatomists to research normal, as well as diseased, cadavers. He has lent his eponym to quite an impressive range of structures, at least 23 by one reckoning 5

NB: the "nerve of Luschka" is a different structure, being a historical name for the posterior ethmoidal nerve 5

  • chronic low back pain can be caused by structures innervated by the sinuvertebral nerve
    • diagnosis can be made through discography
    • treatment involves sinuvertebral nerve blockade performed via an interlaminar approach 2,3

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