Carotid Triangle Flashcards
Boundries
- Behind
- Above and in front
- Below and in front
Behind
Upper part sternomastoid
Above and in front
Posterior belly digastric
Below and in front
Superior belly omohyoid
Roof
- Skin
- Superficial fascia (containing Platysma)
- Deep fascia
Floor
- Side pharynx (inferior and middle constrictors)
- Thryohyoid
- Hyoglossus
Blood vessels
3 carotid arteries and IJV
Arteries
- Common carotid artery (CCA)
- ECA
- ICA
Veins
- Superior thyroid
- Lingual
- Common facial veins
- IJV
CCA
Divides at upper border thyroid cartilage into: ICA and ECA
ECA
Anteromedial to ICA outside carotid sheath gives 5 branches in triangle:
1. Superior thyroid artery
2. Lingual artery
3. Facial artery
4. Occcipital artery
5. Ascending pharyngeal
Superior thyroid artery
Runs downwards and forwards
Lingual artery
Runs forwards with loop opposite tip of hyoid greater horn
Facial artery
Runs upwards and forwards above lingual artery
Occipital artery
Runs upwards and backwards along posterior belly digastric lower border
Ascending pharyngeal
Runs upwards on ICA medial side
ICA
Posterolateral to ECA inside carotid sheath gives no branches in neck
Superior thyroid, lingual, and common facial veins
Ending in IJV
IJV
Lies inside carotid sheath posterolateral to ICA
Carotid sheath
Tube of deep fascia surrounding CCA, ICA, IJV, and vagus nerve
Lymph nodes
Deep cervical lymph nodes
Nerves
- Hypoglossal nerve
- Spinal root accessory
- Vagus nerve
- Sympathetic chain
Sympathetic chain
Deep to CCA and ICA
Spinal root accessory and vagus nerve
Mostly undercover of sternomastoid
Hypoglossal nerve
- Crosses superficial to ICA, ECA, and lingual artery loop
- Gives descends hypoglossi which passes in front of ICA and CCA forming ansa cervicalis
