Carotid Triangle Flashcards
Importance of the carotid triangle
Surgical access to internal carotid artery
Where can artherosclerotic plaque be found in the carotid triangle?
Bifurcation of internal and external carotids
Carotid triangle superior boundary
- Stylohyoid
- Posterior belly of Digastric
Carotid triangle anterior boundary
Superior belly of Omohyoid
Carotid triangle posterior border
Anterior border of SCM
Carotid triangle floor
- Thyrohyoid
- Hyoglossus
- Sup. Pharyngeal constrictor
- Mid. Pharyngeal constrictor
- Inf. Pharyngeal constrictor
Important contents in carotid triangle
- Carotid artery
- Internal jugular vein
- Vagus nerve
What are the contents of the carotid triangle surrounded by?
Deep cervical fascia in carotid sheath
When viewed laterally, the contents of the carotid triangle are deep to which muscle?
SCM
Where is the carotid body located?
Posterior near the bifurcation of the common carotid artery.
What type of receptors are found in the carotid body?
Chemoreceptors
What triggers the carotid body to send signals to the respiratory centers?
Increased Co2
This structure is an enlargement of the distal common and proximal internal carotid artery
Carotid sinus
The carotid sinus contains this for monitoring blood pressure
Baroreceptors
What can a drop in blood pressure trigger?
Increase in heart rate
The internal jugular vein exits which foramen?
Jugular
The internal jugular vein is posterior to which artery while exiting the jugular foramen?
Internal carotid artery
As the internal jugular vein travels down, where is it in relation to the internal carotid artery?
Lateral
Internal jugular vein + subclavian veins =
Brachiocephalic vein
Tributaries of Internal Jugular
- Facial vein
- Lingual vein
- Inferior petrosal singus
- Pharyngeal veins (multiple veins)
- Superior & middle thyroid
FLIPS
The vagus nerve exits which foramen?
Jugular
What does the vagus nerve descend within?
Carotid sheath
The vagus nerve branches penetrate the carotid sheath to innervate which structures?
- Pharynx (motor)
- Internal laryngeal (sensory)
- External laryngeal (motor)
Where does the recurrent branch occur?
Thorax
Ansa cervicalis formed from what parts of the cervical plexus?
C1-C3
What does the ansa cervicalis innervate?
Infrahyoid muscles
Where is the nerve loop of the ansa cervicalis embedded?
Carotid sheath
The glossopharyngeal nerve exits at which foramen?
Jugular
The glossopharyngeal nerve travels briefly between which vessels?
Internal carotid artery & internal jugular vein
Branches in the anterior triangle
- Branch to carotid sinus
- Innervating pharyngeal branches
