Carotid Triangle

Question 1

boundaries of the Carotid Triangle

Answer 1

superior belly of omohyoid
posterior belly of digastric
SCM

Question 2

what is does the carotid triangle contain?

Answer 2

common carotid artery (and branches), internal jugular vein, ansa cervicalis, vagus nerve (CNX) and cervical sympathetic trunk

Question 3

what three structures are in the carotid sheath? what contributes to the formation of the carotid sheath?

Answer 3

• internal jugular vein
• common carotid artery
• vagus nerve

investing fascia, pretracheal fascia and prevertebral fascia come together to form carotid sheath

Question 4

what is on the surface of the carotid sheath?

Answer 4

ansa cervicalis

Question 5

what muscles does ansa cervicalis provide innervation for

Answer 5

sternohyoid, sternothyroid and omohyoid

Question 6

where does the right common carotid artery originate from?

Answer 6

brachiocephalic trunk

Question 7

where does the left common carotid artery originate from?

Answer 7

direct branch off aortic arch

Question 8

where do the common carotid arteries branch?

Answer 8

branch into the internal and external carotid arteries near the hyoid bone

Question 9

Carotid Sinus

Answer 9

• dilated area at most proximal aspect of ICA

- contains baroreceptors for regulation of arterial blood pressure

Question 10

Carotid Body

Answer 10

• deep side of bifurcation of carotid artery

- contains chemoreceptors for regulation of blood oxygen

Question 11

what carries sensation from carotid body and sinus?

Answer 11

glossopharyngeal nerve (IX)

Question 12

what are the 8 branches that arise from the external carotid artery?

Answer 12

-Collateral Branches:
     superior thyroid 
     lingual 
     facial 
     ascending pharyngeal 
     occipital 
     posterior auricular
-Terminal Branches: 
     maxillary
     superficial temporal

Question 13

superior and inferior bulbs

Answer 13

bulbs that contain valves in the superior and inferior aspects of inferior jugular vein>keeps venous blood moving in one direction

Question 14

what does Vagus Nerve Control?

Answer 14

• innervates voluntary muscles of larynx (speaking) and pharynx (swallowing)
• innervates most muscles associated with soft palate
• supplies parasympathetics to heart and most of digestive tract (to left colic flexure)
• carries sensory info from larynx, trachea, thoacic and abdominal viscera and stretch receptors in wall of aortic arch

Question 15

Carotid Plexus

Answer 15

post synaptic sympathetics traveling with carotid artery to get to brain

Question 16

Superior Cervical Ganglion

Answer 16

sympathetics to head

Question 17

Middle Cervical Ganglion

Answer 17

sympathetics to heart and lungs

Question 18

Inferior Cervical Ganglion

Answer 18

sympathetics to heart and lungs

Question 19

Splanchnic Nerves

Answer 19

travel to abdominal and pelvic organs

Question 20

Horner’s Syndrome

Answer 20

• lesion of sympathetic trunk in neck
• causes: stroke, trauma, carotid artery injury, tumors, cluster headaches
• manifestations: miosis (constrict pupil), ptosis (drooping eyelid), and anhidrosis (decreased sweating)

Question 21

Brachial Fistula

Answer 21

abnormal canal that opens internally into tonsillary sinus and externally on the side of the neck
results from persistence of remnants of 2nd pharyngeal pouch

Question 22

where does the internal carotid artery supply to

Answer 22

supplies blood to the brain