pˈæsɪŋ bˈækwɚd, əbˌʌv ðɪ ˈeɪtθ sˈɜːvɪkəl nˈɜːv ænd bᵻtwˌiːn ðə tɹænsvˈɜːs pɹˈɑːsɛs ʌvðə sˈɛvənθ sˈɜːvɪkəl vˈɜːɾɪbɹə ænd ðə nˈɛk ʌvðə fˈɜːst ɹˈɪb, ɪt ɹˈʌnz ˌʌp ðə bˈæk ʌvðə nˈɛk, bᵻtwˌiːn ðə sˌɛmɪspɪnˈɑːliz kæpˈaɪɾɪs ænd sˌɛmɪspɪnˈɑːliz sˈɜːvɪsˌɪs, æz hˈaɪ æz ðɪ ˈæksɪs vˈɜːɾɪbɹə, səplˈaɪɪŋ ðiːz ænd ɐdʒˈeɪsənt mˈʌsəlz, ænd ˈænɐstˌɑːmoʊsɪŋ wɪððə dˈiːp dᵻvˈɪʒən ʌvðə dᵻsˈɛndɪŋ bɹˈæntʃ ʌvðɪ ˈɑːksɪpˌɪɾəl, ænd wɪð bɹˈæntʃᵻz ʌvðə vˈɜːɾɪbɹəl.
Passing backward, above the eighth cervical nerve and between the transverse process of the seventh cervical vertebra and the neck of the first rib, it runs up the back of the neck, between the semispinalis capitis and semispinalis cervicis, as high as the axis vertebra, supplying these and adjacent muscles, and anastomosing with the deep division of the descending branch of the occipital, and with branches of the vertebral.