Anterior Triangle of the Neck Flashcards
What are the boundaries of the submandibular triangle?
mandible (superior), posterior belly of the gastric muscle (posterior) & the anterior belly of the gastric muscle (anterior)
What regions do the lymph nodes surrounding the submandibular gland drain?
They drain lymph from the oral cavity and the neck
What blood vessels crosses over the submandibular gland superficially?
- Facial artery; branch from the external carotid artery
2. Facial vein; tributary to the internal jugular vein
Where is the facial vein collecting blood from?
the face and the gland tissue
Describe the course of the facial artery as it relates to the submandibular gland?
The facial artery branches off of the external carotid artery and courses deep to the submandibular gland. When it reaches the submandibular gland it crosses on top of it superficially to course diagonally over the face.
What nerve will you find in the submandibular triangle (HINT: This nerve is going to the tongue.)
Hypoglossal nerve (CN XII)
What is the relationship between CN XII and the posterior belly of the digastric muscle?
The hypoglossal nerve courses just inferior to the posterior belly of the gastric muscle.
What is the relationship between the hypoglossal nerve and both the mylohyoid and the hyoglossus muscles?
The hypoglossal muscle travels in between a small space in between these two muscles.
What ganglion contains the fibers to and from the submandibular gland? (HINT: This one of the four pairs of parasympathetic ganglia.)
submandibular ganglion
What is the main feature of the submandibular triangle?
the submandibular gland
What are the boundaries of the muscular triangle?
the midline, superior belly of the omohyoid muscle & the sternocleidomastoid muscle
List the 4 strap or infrahyoid muscles.
- omohyoid muscle
- sternohyoid muscle
- sternothyroid muscle
- thyrohyoid muscle
Which of the infrahyoid muscles (strap muscles) are the most superficial?
- omohyoid muscle
2. sternohyoid muscle
Which of the infrahyoid muscles (strap muscles) are deep?
- sternothyroid
- thyrohyoid
(Notice these two muscles have the word “thyro” in them)
In the names of the deep infrahyoid muscles, what does the root “thyro-“ refer too?
It refers to the thyroid cartilage.
What nervous structures innervate the majority of the strap muscles?
the ansa cervicalis
Note the ansa cervicalis does not innervate the thyrohyoid muscle
Which muscle is innervated by C1 only?
thyrohyoid muscle
Which spinal nerves have ventral rami that contribute to the ansa cervicalis?
C1, C2 & C3
What is the general function of the strap muscles?
The infrahyoid or strap muscles function to depress the hyoid bone during swallowing.
If you cut and reflect all of the strap muscles, what gland would you be viewing?
thyroid gland
What arteries serve the thyroid gland?
- superior thyroid artery
2. inferior thyroid artery
What veins drain the thyroid gland?
superior, middle and inferior thyroid gland
What is the sympathetic innervation of the thyroid gland?
sympathetic postganglionic fibers
Where are the cell bodies of the postganglionic neurons to the thyroid gland located?
Middle and inferior sympathetic cervical ganglion
Where are the parathyroid glands located?
The parathyroid glands are located on the posterior aspect of each thyroid lobe.