Anterior Triangle Flashcards
Anterior Cervical Triangle
Boundaries: Anterior midline of the neck, inferior border of the mandible, anterior border of SCM. Apex of triangle is jugular notch. Base of triangle is inferior border of mandible.
Roof of triangle
Comprised of superficial fascia, platysma, and skin
Subdivisions of the Anterior Triangle
Submandibular (Diagastric), Submental, Carotid, and Muscular
Submandibular Triangle
Aka Digastric triangle. Superior boundary: Inferior border of mandible. Lateral boundary: Posterior belly of digastric muscle. Medial border: anterior belly of digastric muscle
Digastric muscle
Muscle inferior to the jaw with two bellies: anterior and posterior. These two bellies, along with the inferior border of the mandible, form the digastric/submandibular triangle. Act to elevate the hyoid bone.
Digastric Muscle (Anterior belly)
Arises from the lower border of the mandible. Forms medial border of submandibular triangle.
Digastric Muscle (Posterior belly)
Longer of the two. Arise from mastoid notch near mastoid process. Forms lateral boundary of submandibular triangle.
Floor of submandibular triangle
Formed by the mylohyoid and hypoglossal muscles
Contents of the submandibular triangle
Submandibular gland, submandibular ganglion, submandibular lymph nodes, hypoglossal nerve, and facial artery/vein
Submandibular Gland
Salivary gland
Submandibular ganglion
Parasympathetic ganglion located next to the submandibular gland
Submandibular lymph nodes
Lie superficial to the submandibular gland
Hypoglossal nerve
CNXII
Submental Triangle
Located at the anterior midline of the neck above the hyoid bone. Inferior boundary: hyoid bone (base of triangle). Lateral boundaries: anterior bellies of digastric muscle. Floor: mylohyoid muscle.
Hyoid bone
Horseshoe shaped bone situated anterior midline of neck between chin and thyroid cartilage. At rest, lies at he level of the base of the mandible.
Mylohyoid muscles
Form floor of both submandibular and submental triangles. Rune from mandible to hyoid bone. Join at the midline, forming a raphe (space of 2 muscles intermeshing)
Contents of submental triangle
Submental lymph nodes, beginning of anterior jugular veins
Carotid triangle
Described as most important triangle. Lies anterior to the superior part of SCM. Infrahyoid muscles do not overlap the carotid arteries. Anterior boundary: superior belly of omohyoid muscle. Superior boundary: Posterior belly of digastric muscle. Lateral boundary: anterior border of SCM.
Contents of carotid triangle
Carotid sheath, common carotid artery, internal carotid artery, external carotid artery + branches, internal jugular vein, Vagus Nerve
Carotid sheath
Extends from base of neck to base of skull. Contains vagus nerve posteriorly, common carotid/internal carotid arteries medially, and internal jugular vein laterally
Vagus Nerve
CN X. Longest cranial nerve. Exits the skull through jugular foramen, enters the carotid sheath. Gives rise to reccurent laryngeal, cardiac branches, superior laryngeal, and contributes to pharyngeal plexus.
Internal Jugular Vein
Runs laterally through the carotid sheath. Begins outside skull at eternal surface of jugular foramen as a dilated structure known as the jugular bulb. Descends inferiorly in the carotid sheath. Terminates by joining subclavian vein to form brachiocephalic vein
Common carotid artery
Ascend medially through carotid sheath. Terminates at superior border of the thyroid cartilage by dividing to form external and internal carotid arteries. Occulsion can obstruct bloodflow to brain leading to stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA)