2 - Ant cervical triangle Flashcards
Posterior Cervical Triangle:
Anterior boundary = SCM
Posterior boundary = Trapezius m.
Inferior boundary = middle 1/3 of clavicle
Anterior Cervical Triangle Boundaries:
Lateral: anterior border of SCM m.
Superior: inferior border of mandible
Medial: midline of neck
Roof – Skin & platysma m. (contained within the skin)
Floor – formed by muscles
Viscera – considered “contents”
Roof” of anterior cervical triangle:
formed by skin & platysma m.
Platysma m. innervation
Cervical Branch of Facial n. (CN VII)
Anterior Cervical Triangle can be subdivided into 4 smaller triangles:
Submental triangle
Submandibular triangle
Muscular triangle
Carotid triangle
Anterior cervical triangle contents:
Muscles Veins Arteries Nerves Cervical viscera
Muscles of anterior cervical triangle can be grouped based upon their
position relative to the hyoid bone
Suprahyoid muscles
Located superior to hyoid bone
Elevate hyoid bone
4 muscles: Stylohyoid m. Digastric m. Mylohyoid m. Geniohyoid m.
Stylohyoid m. Action
Pulls hyoid bone upward in posterosuperior direction
Stylohyoid m. Innervation
Facial n. (CN VII)
Digastric m. Action
Mandible fixed – raises hyoid bone
Hyoid bone fixed – opens mouth (by lowering mandible)
Digastric m. Innervation
Ant. belly – Mandibular division of trigeminal n. (V3) (mylohyoid branch)
Post. belly – Facial n. (CN VII)
Mylohyoid m. Action
Supports & elevates floor of mouth; elevates hyoid
Mylohyoid m Innervation
Mandibular division of trigeminal n. (V3) (mylohyoid branch)
Geniohyoid m. Action
Mandible fixed – elevates & pulls hyoid forward
Hyoid fixed – pulls mandible downward & inward
Geniohyoid m. Innervation
branch from anterior ramus of C1 carried via hypoglossal n. (CN XII)
Infrahyoid mm.
Located inferior to the hyoid bone
Depress the hyoid bone
4 muscles: Omohyoid m. Sternohyoid m. Thyrohyoid m. Sternothyroid m.
Sternohyoid m. action (infrahyoid group)
Depresses hyoid bone after swallowing
Sternohyoid m. Innervation (infrahyoid group)
anterior rami of C1-C3 via ansa cervicalis
Omohyoid m. (infrahyoid group)
two bellies (superior & inferior) connected by an intermediate tendon
Omohyoid m. innervation (infrahyoid group)
anterior rami of C1-C3 via ansa cervicalis
Omohyoid m. action (infrahyoid group)
depresses & fixes hyoid bone
Thyrohyoid m. Action (infrahyoid group)
Depresses hyoid bone
When hyoid is fixed, it raises the larynx
Thyrohyoid m. innervation (infrahyoid group)
fibers from anterior ramus of C1 carried via the hypoglossal n. (CN XII)
Nerve to thyrohyoid m.
Sternothyroid m. Action (infrahyoid group)
Draws larynx (thyroid cartilage) downward
Sternothyroid m. Innervation (infrahyoid group)
anterior rami of C1-C3 via ansa cervicalis
Anterior jugular vein:
Drains anterior neck; located in midline
Empties into subclavian v. (most commonly) or external jugular v.
Communicating branch:
connects the
common facial v. with the anterior jugular v.
Common facial v.
formed from the joining of the anterior division of retromandibular v. with the facial v.
Retromandibular vein:
formed by
superficial temporal v. & maxillary v.
Retromandibular vein: divides into
anterior & posterior divisions
Retromandibular vein: Anterior div. + Facial v. =
Common facial v. (drains into internal jugular v.)
Retromandibular vein: Posterior div. + Posterior auricular v. =
External jugular v.
Facial vein:
Originates at angle of eye
Receives tributaries from veins draining face
Drains into internal jugular v.
Internal jugular vein drains
blood from skull, brain, superficial face, & cervical viscera
Internal jugular vein joins with
subclavian v. to form brachiocephalic v.
Internal jugular vein Traverses neck within
carotid sheath
Common carotid a.
Right and left common carotid
Right Common Carotid a.
from brachiocephalic trunk
Left Common Carotid a.
– direct branch off arch of aorta
Internal carotid a. –
gives off no branches in the neck
External carotid ar.
External carotid a. – gives off branches immediately after bifurcation of common carotid a.
The common carotid a. bifurcates at
C3-C4 vertebral level
The internal carotid a. does NOT give off any
branches within the neck! There are no branches off of the internal carotid a. outside of the skull
Branches of External Carotid a.
3 anterior, 3 posterior
3 anterior branches of external carotid a.
Superior thyroid a.
Lingual a.
Facial a.
3 posterior branches of external carotid ar.
Ascending pharyngeal a.
Occipital a.
Posterior auricular a.
External carotid a. terminates as
superficial temporal a. and maxillary a.
Superior Thyroid a.
1st anterior branch of external carotid a.
Superior thyroid a. Arises from
anterior surface near bifurcation
Superior thyroid a. Gives off the
superior laryngeal a.
Superior laryngeal a. pierces
thyrohyoid membrane together with internal branch of superior laryngeal n.
Superior thyroid a. supplies
superior portion of thyroid gland
Lingual a.
2nd anterior branch from external carotid a
Lingual a. arises just above
superior thyroid a. at level of greater horn of the hyoid bone
Lingual a. passes deeply into the
muscles of the tongue
Facial a.
3rd anterior branch of external carotid a.
Facial a. arises just superior
to lingual a.
Facial a. Crosses the
inferior border of mandible to supply the face
Ascending pharyngeal a.
1st posterior branch of external carotid a.
Ascending pharyngeal a. Arises close to
bifurcation of common carotid a
Ascending pharyngeal a. Ascends to supply
pharynx & tonsils
Occipital a.
2nd posterior branch of external carotid a.
Occipital a. Arises near
level of origin of facial a.
Occipital a. Passes deep to
posterior belly of digastric m.
Occipital a Ascends to supply
neck & scalp
Occipital a. Sends off
muscular branch to SCM (*hooks over CN XII)
Posterior Auricular a.
3rd posterior branch of external carotid a.