Anatomy and Physiology of the Neck Flashcards
What bones make up the head and neck?
Skull, cervical vertebrae, hyoid bone, and bones of the middle ear
What are the bones of the skull?
Frontal, sphenoid, temporal, parietal, occipital and ethmoid
What are the main sutures of the skull?
Coronal suture - frontal to parietal
Sagittal suture - parietals together
Lambdoid suture - parietal to occipital
What are the 2 fontanelles of skull?
Frontal and Occipital
In neonates sutures are not fully formed so have soft spots
What are the 2 broad triangles of the neck?
Anterior and posterior triangle
SCM muscle is important in division
What are the boundaries of the anterior triangle?
Posterior border of mandible
Midline of the neck
Anterior border of SCM
What are the suprahyoid muscles present in anterior triangle?
Digastric, mylohyoid, stylohyoid, and geniohyoid
What are the infrahyoid muscles present in anterior triangle?
Thyrohyoid, omohyoid, sternohyoid, and sternothyroid
What are the subdivisions of the anterior triangle of neck?
Muscular, carotid, submandibular and submental triangles
What arteries are present in the anterior triangle?
Common carotid - external and internal
Superior thyroid (ECA)
Inferior thyroid artery (thyrocervical trunk)
What veins are in the anterior triangle?
Anterior jugular veins
Internal jugular vein
Superior thyroid vein
Middle thyroid veins
What nerves are present in anterior triangle?
Vagus nerve - X
Hypoglossal -XII
Part of sympathetic trunk
What are the 8 branches of the external carotid artery?
Superior thyroid, ascending pharyngeal, lingual, facial, occipital, posterior auricular, maxillary and superficial temporal
(Some Anatomists Like Freaking Out Poor Medical Students)
Describe the internal carotid artery
Major branch of common carotid
Arises at carotid bifurcation
Carotid sinus and carotid body at bifurcation
What is the role of the carotid sinus and body?
Sinus - detects BP change
Body - chemoreceptors for acid/ base disturbances
What are the boundaries of the posterior triangle of the neck?
Posterior border of SCM
Anterior border of trapezius
Middle 1/3 of clavicle
What artery is in the posterior triangle?
Subclavian artery - third part
What vein is in the posterior triangle?
External jugular vein - inferior aspect
What nerves are in posterior triangle?
Accessory nerve - X1
Branches of cervical plexus
Upper brachial plexus
What are the 2 groups of lymphatic vessels?
Superficial and Deep
Describe the superficial lymphatic vessels
Drain lymph from scalp, face and neck into superficial ring of lymph nodes at junction of head and neck
Describe the deep lymphatic vessels
Arise from deep cervical lymph nodes
These converge to form left and right jugular lymphatic trunks
Describe the left jugular lymphatic trunk
Combines with thoracic duct at root of neck
Empties into venous system via left subclavian vein
Describe the right jugular lymphatic trunk
Forms the right lymphatic duct at root of neck
Empties into venous system via right subclavian vein
What are some groups of superficial lymph nodes?
Occipital, pre and post auricular, parotid, submental and submandibular
Describe Waldeyer’s Ring?
Oropharyngeal mucosa covering bed of lymphatic tissue
First line defence against microbes that enter body via nasal and oral route
What makes up Waldeyer’s Ring?
Lingual tonsils, palatine tonsils, tubal tonsils, and pharyngeal tonsil
Describe the thyroid gland
Butterfly shaped vascular endocrine gland situates in midline of anterior neck
Extends from C5 to T1
Is the largest of endocrine glands
Describe the parathyroid glands
Small brown oval glands situated in posterior aspect of thyroid
Usually 4 glands - 2 superior and 2 inferior
What is the blood supply of the thyroid gland?
Superior thyroid artery
Inferior thyroid artery
Thyroid ima in some people
What is the venous drainage of the thyroid gland?
Superior, middle (IJV), and inferior thyroid glands (EJV)
What is the arterial supply of the parathyroid gland?
Inferior thyroid artery
What is the venous drainage of the parathyroid glands?
Superior, middle and inferior thyroid veins
