Anaesthetics: Anatomy - Neck Flashcards
What is unique about the hyoid bone?
Does not articulate with any other bone
What is the usual mechanism of hyoid fracture?
Strangulation
What is the function of the hyoid?
Provides attachment for anterior neck muscles
Holds airway open
What is a possible complication of hyoid fracture?
Difficulty maintaining separation of respiratory and alimentary tracts when swallowing, leading to increased risk of aspiration pneumonia
What is the vertebral level of the hard palate?
C1
What is the vertebral level of the lower border of the mandible?
C2-3
What is the vertebral level of the hyoid?
C3
What is the vertebral level of the cricoid?
C6
Six contents of the superficial cervical fascia
- Cutaneous nerves
- Bloods vessels
- Lymphatic vessels
- Superficial lymph nodes
- Fat
- Platysma
What are the three layers of the deep cervical fascia, from superficial to deep?
- Investing layer
- Pretracheal fascia
- Prevertebral fascia
What is the embryological origin of the platysma?
Arises from mesenchyme in the 2nd pharyngeal arch
Where does the platysma arise and insert?
Fibres arise from deep fascia of upper parts of pectoralis major and deltoid, and run to inferior border of mandible
Diverge inferior to chin, leaving gap anterior to larynx and trachea
Which neurovascular structures are deep to the platysma in the superficial cervical fascia?
Main cutaneous nerves
External and anterior jugular
Describe the course of anterior jugular vein
Commences beneath the chin, continues down to suprasternal region then pierces deep fascia and lies in suprasternal space (often connected by short anastomotic vein)
Describe the motor and sensory nerve supply of the platysma
Motor supply from cervical branch of facial nerve
Sensory (proprioceptive) fibres run with transverse cervical nerve
What are the actions of the platysma?
Muscle of facial expression (tension, stress)
May help open mouth
What is the clinical presentation of platysma muscle paralysis?
Due to palsy of cervical branch of facial nerve
Skin falls away from neck in slack folds
Where does the investing layer of the deep cervical fascia split and why?
Splits at all four corners into superficial and deep layers to enclose sternocleidomastoid (anterolaterally) and trapezius (posterolaterally)
Six superior attachments of the investing layer of the deep cervical fascia
- Superior nuchal line of occipital bone
- Mastoid processes
- Zygomatic arches
- Inferior border of mandible
- Hyoid bone
- Spinous processes of cervical vertebrae
Three inferior attachments of the investing layer of the deep cervical fascia
- Manubrium
- Clavicles
- Acromions and spines of scapulae
Where does the investing layer of the deep cervical fascia split? What extensions does it have?
Inferior to mandible to enclose submandibular gland
Posterior to mandible to enclose parotid gland
Superior to manubrium to enclose sternocleidomastoid (forms suprasternal space)
Extends as stylomandibular ligament
How is the suprasternal space formed and what does it contain?
Between layers of the investing layer of deep cervical fascia as it splits to enclose sternocleidomastoid: superficial layer attaches to anterior manubrium, deep layer to posterior manubrium, forming suprasternal space
Contains anterior jugular veins, jugular venous arch, fat, and few deep lymph nodes
What are the two parts of the pretracheal fascia and what does each enclose?
Muscular part: encloses infrahyoid muscles (sternothyroid, sternohyoid, omohyoid)
Visceral part: encloses thyroid gland, trachea, oesophagus
What is the visceral part of the pretracheal fascia continuous with?
Superiorly and posteriorly with buccopharyngeal fascia
How does the omohyoid suspend the hyoid?
Intermediate tendon passes through a thickening of the pretracheal fascia superior to the hyoid, forming a pulley and suspending the hyoid
What happens to the pretracheal fascia at its lateral and inferior borders?
Laterally blends with fibres of the carotid sheath
Inferiorly passes behind brachiocephalic veins and is continuous with fibrous pericardium
What is enclosed within the prevertebral fascia?
Vertebral column and associated muscles:
- Longus coli and longus capitis anteriorly
- Scalenes laterally
- Deep cervical muscles posteriorly
Describe the boundaries of the pretracheal fascia
Fixed to cranial base superiorly
Blends with endothoracic fascia and anteriorly longitudinal ligament (at approx T3) inferiorly
Extends laterally as axillary sheath
What structures are embedded in the prevertebral fascia?
Cervical parts of sympathetic trunks
What part of the subclavian artery lies deep to the prevertebral fascia?
Third part
Which nerves pierce the prevertebral fascia?
Cutaneous branches of cervical plexus:
- Greater auricular
- Lesser occipital
- Transverse cervical
- Supraclavicular
Where does the carotid sheath run?
Between cranial base to root of neck
Blends anteriorly with investing layer and pretracheal fascia, and posteriorly with prevertebral fascia
Contents of the carotid sheath
I C 10 CC’s in the IV:
- Internal Carotid
- CN 10 (vagus)
- Common Carotid
- Internal jugular Vein
- Some deep cervical lymph nodes
- Carotid sinus nerve
- Sympathetic nerve fibres (carotid peri-arterial plexuses)
What is the retropharyngeal space?
Potential space between superior part of the prevertebral fascia and the buccopharyngeal fascia
Further subdivided by alar fascia, which is attached along the midline of the buccopharyngeal fascia from cranium to C7, then extends laterally to terminate in the carotid sheath
What is the function of the retropharyngeal space?
Permits movement of viscera (pharynx, larynx, oesophagus, trachea) relative to vertebral column with swallowing
What is the retropharyngeal space continuous with and what is the clinical significance of this?
Continuous inferiorly with superior mediastinum
Retropharyngeal space infection can extend into superior mediastinum
How can infections in the head and neck extend into the mediastinum?
Posterior mediastinum: from head tracks down posterior to oesophagus
Anterior mediastinum: from head tracks down anterior to trachea, or if infection from neck enters space between investing layer and visceral part of the pretracheal fascia
Can infection between the investing layer and muscular part of the pretracheal fascia spread into the mediastinum?
No, cannot spread beyond superior border of manubrium (unless perforates into visceral part of pretracheal fascia)
Attachments, innervation and actions of platysma
Superior attachment: inferior mandible, skin and subcut tissue of lower face
Inferior attachment: deep fascia of upper parts of pec major and deltoids
Innervation: cervical branch of CN VII
Actions: facial expression
Three cutaneous/superficial muscles of the neck
- Platysma
- Sternocleidomastoid
- Trapezius
Four suprahyoid muscles from superficial to deep
- Digastric
- Stylohyoid
- Mylohyoid
- Geniohyoid
Four infrahyoid muscles from superficial to deep
- Sternohyoid
- Omohyoid
- Sternothyroid
- Thyrohyoid