1. General Organisation Of The Head And Neck Flashcards
What is the skull also called?
Cranium
What are the 2 main parts of the skull?
Neurocranium and viscerocranium
What are the groups of muscles in the head?
Muscles of facial expression
Muscles of mastication (chewing)
What are the 2 key nerves in the head?
Facial nerve
Trigeminal nerve
What are the 2 key blood vessels that supply the face?
Facial artery and vein
What are some characteristics of muscles of facial expression?
Dilators or sphincters
Attach to bone, the skin/fascia of the face, and other muscles
What are some characteristics of muscles of mastication/
Open or close the jaw
Act on the temporomandibular joint
What is the facial nerve also called?
Cranial nerve VII
How many extra-cranial branches does the facial nerve have?
5
What are the 5 key extra-cranial branches of the facial nerve?
Temporal Zygomatic Buccaneers Marginal mandibular Cervical
What is the trigeminal nerve also known as?
Cranial nerve V
What is the main role of the trigeminal nerve?
Main sensory nerve of face and scalp
What are the 3 key branches of the trigeminal nerve?
Va ophthalmic division
Vb maxillary division
Vc mandibular division
What information do the ophthalmic and maxillary divisions carry?
Sensory
What information does the mandibular division carry?
Sensory and motor
What does the facial artery branch off from?
External carotid artery
What are the main blood vessels that supply and drain the facial structures?
Facial artery and vein
At what cervical vertebral level does the common carotid artery bifurcate into its two terminal branches, internal and external carotid arteries?
C4
Which nerve carries general sensory information from the cheek area?/
Maxillary nerve
Which artery, a branch from the common carotid artery, gives no branches while running in the neck?
Internal carotid artery
Which division of the trigeminal nerve carries general sensory innervation from the tip of the nose?
Ophthalmic
Which extracranial branch of the facial nerve runs towards the forehead?
Temporal
Which extra cranial branch of the facial nerve runs through the face at the level of the fleshy part of the cheek?
Buccal
The union of which two veins forms the brachiocephalic vein on both the left and right side of the body?
Subclavian and internal jugular vein
What are the palpable structures in the neck?
Hyoid bone
Thyroid cartilage (Adams apple)
Cricoid cartilage
Thyroid gland
What are the muscles of the neck?
Platysma Trapezius Sternocleidomastoid Scalene muscles Supra and infra hyoid
Which is the most superficial neck muscle?
Platysma
What is the role of platysma?
When contracted, furrow the skin and make the skin taut
Can pull down lower part of mouth and cause grimace
What is the role of the sternocleidomastoid muscle?
Rotates chin to opposite direction
What is the nerve to the platysma?
Facial nerve - cervical branch
What is the nerve to the sternocleidomastoid?
Cranial nerve - accessory nerve
What is the nerve to the trapezius muscle?
Cranial nerve - accessory nerve
What makes up the anterior triangle in the neck?
Anterior border of SCM
Midsagittal line of neck
Inferior border of mandible
What makes up the posterior triangle in the neck?
Anterior - posterior border of SCM
Posterior - anterior border of trapezius
Inferior - clavicle
What form the floor of the posterior triangle?
Scalene muscles
What structure runs obliquely across the posterior triangle?
Omohyoid muscle (infrahyoid)
What are the borders of the carotid triangle?
Superior - digastric (posterior belly)
Anterior- omohyoid (superior belly)
Lateral - anterior border of SCM
What is found in the carotid triangle?
Bifurcation of the carotid artery to internal and external branches
Can also palpate their pulse
What are the roles of fascial layers?
Form natural planes
Ease of movement between structures e.g. when swallowing
Can restrict but also permit spread of infection
Where does the carotid artery bifurcate?
C4
At what level does the oesophagus start?
C6
In a patient with a retropharangeal abscess, why is swallowing and movement of the neck typically difficult and painful?
Abscess may press onto oesophagus and make swallowing difficult, causes drooling
Space becomes narrower and layers of fascia unable to slide so causes pain in movement
What are the symptoms of Bell’s palsy?
Weakness on one side of your face Drooping eyelid or mouth Drooling Dry eye Usually unable to raise eyebrows
Which nerve is affected in Bell’s palsy?
Facial nerve (CN VII)
Which muscles are affected in Bell’s palsy?
Orbicularis oculi Frontalis Orbicularis oris Buccinator Platysma
What is the function of the platysma?
Depresses angles of mouth, also used to tense skin of neck
What are the functions of both parts of the orbicularis oculi?
Orbital - voluntary closure of eyelids (forced squeezing)
Palpebral - closes eyelids gently
What are the functions of both parts of the occipitofrontalis?
Frontalis - elevate eyebrows and wrinkle forehead
Occipital - retracts scalp
What is the function of the orbicularis oris?
Closes mouth, compresses and protrudes lips
What is the function of the buccinator?
Compresses cheek against molar teeth
What is the function of the dilator muscles of the lips?
Elevate the upper lip and draw it laterally
What are the functions of the pterygoids?
Lateral - bilateral actions assists in depressing mandible (opens jaw), also protrudes mandible
Medial - bilateral contraction assists with elevation of mandible (closes jaw), can protrude mandible
What is the function of the masseter?
Elevates and protrudes mandible
What is the function of the temporalis?
Elevates and retracts mandible
What is the function of the sternocleidomastoid?
Neck ipsilateral flexion, neck contralateral rotation
What is the function of the trapezius?
Draws scapula superomedially, extension of head and neck, arterial flexion of head and neck, rotation of head, draws scapula medially and inferomedially
What is the function of the levator palpebrae superioris?
Elevates superior eyelid
