1.0 Triangles of the Neck and Larynx

Question 1

What are the branches of the Thyrocervical Trunk and how do they travel?

Answer 1

Inferior thyroid A. (medial)
Transverse Cervical A. (lateral)
Suprascapular A. (lateral)

Question 2

What nerves travel out from Erb’s Point? What are their nerve roots?

Answer 2

Lesser Occipital N. (C2)
Great Auricular N. (C2, C3)
Transverse Cervical N. (C2, C3)
Supraclavicular N. (C3, C4)

Question 3

What is the most commonly cut nerve?

Answer 3

Spinal Accessory N. (CN XI)

Question 4

Which way would a patient’s head tilt if they had Torticollis on the right?

Answer 4

The head will tilt to the right and the face would turn to the left.

Question 5

What is the caritud sinus and carotid body? What are they innervated by?

Answer 5

Carotid sinus is a baroreceptor for blood pressure. Carotid body is a chemoreceptor for oxygen levels. They are both innervated by the carotid sinus nerve.

Question 6

Where is the phrenic nerve found in the neck? What are its nerve roots?

Answer 6

It lies superficial to the anterior scalene. C3, 4, 5 keeps the diaphragm alive.

Question 7

What is the platysma muscle innervated by?

Answer 7

Facial N. (CN VII)

Question 8

What is contained in the investing layer of fascia?

Answer 8

Encloses sternocleidomastoid M. and trapezius M. Also encloses parotid and submandibular glands.

Question 9

What is contained in the pretracheal layer of fascia? What membrane does it blend with?

Answer 9

Contains esophagus, trachea, and thyroid gland. Blends with pericardium of heart.

Question 10

What is contained in the prevertebral layer of fascia? What does it blend into?

Answer 10

Encloses the vertebral column and associated muscles. Extends laterally as the axillary sheath into the arm.

Question 11

What is contained in the carotid sheath?

Answer 11

Internal jugular V.
Common carotid A.
Vagus N.

Question 12

What is the clinical significance of the retropharyngeal space?

Answer 12

Can develop abscess secondary to lymphatic drainage or respiratory/oral infections.

Question 13

What structures pass through the aperture in the thyrohyoid membrane?

Answer 13

Internal branch of superior laryngeal N. (from vegas N.) and superior laryngeal A.

Question 14

How does contraction of the cricothyroid M. affect the voice?

Answer 14

It increases the pitch

Question 15

How does contraction of the thyro-arytenoid affect the voice?

Answer 15

It lowers the pitch

Question 16

What is the only laryngeal muscle that abducts?

Answer 16

Posterior crico-arytenoid M.

Question 17

What action do the lateral crico-arytenoid, transverse arytenoid, and oblique arytenoid muscles have in common?

Answer 17

Adduction

Question 18

What is the innervations for the muscles of the larynx?

Answer 18

They are all innervated by the inferior laryngeal N. EXCEPT the cricothyroid M. which is innervated by the external laryngeal N.

Question 19

What are the two main lymph ducts of the lymphatic system?

Answer 19

Thoracic duct (left side only) and the right lymphatic duct

Question 20

What landmarks are found at the vertebral level C3-C4?

Answer 20

Body of hyoid bone
Upper margin of thyroid cartilage
Bifurcation of common carotid artery

Question 21

What landmarks are found at the vertebral level C5-C6?

Answer 21

Arch of cricoid cartilage
Superior end of esophagus
Superior end of trachea

Question 22

What are the contents of the mandibular triangle?

Answer 22

Submandibular gland
Submandibular lymph nodes
Hypoglossal N.
Nerve to mylohyoid
Parts of facial A. and V.

Question 23

What are the contents of the submental triangle?

Answer 23

Submental lymph nodes

Small veins that unite to form anterior jugular V.

Question 24

What are the contents of the muscular triangle?

Answer 24

Viscera: thyroid gland, parathyroid glands, larynx, trachea, and esophagus
Arteries: common carotid, superior thyroid, inferior thyroid
Veins: anterior jugular v., thyroid veins (superior, middle, inferior)
Nerves: ansa cervicalis, external laryngeal, recurrent laryngeal

Question 25

What are the contents of the carotid triangle?

Answer 25

Carotid sheath (common and internal carotid arteries, internal jugular v., vagus n., deep cervical lymph nodes, carotid sinus n., sympathetic nerve fibers)
Arteries: branches of the external carotid a.
Nerves: internal and external laryngeal nerves, hypoglossal nerve, spinal accessory n., ansa cervicalis

Question 26

What are the branches of the external carotid from inferior to superior? What does it terminate into?

Answer 26

Superior thyroid A. (gives rise to superior laryngeal A.)
Lingual A.
Facial A. (gives rise to ascending palatine artery and tonsillar artery)
Occipital A.
Posterior auricular A.
Terminates into maxillary artery and superficial temporal artery in the face