General Organisation of the Head and Neck Flashcards
What is the surface anatomy of the neck?
Thyroid cartilage
cricoid cartilage
What groups can the facial muscles be described as?
Muscles of facial expression =
- orbicularis oculi
- orbicularia oris
- buccinator
- platysma
- frontalis
Muscles of mastication =
- masseter
- temporalis
- medial pterygoid
- lateral pterygoid
Outline the platysma muscles
Origin = pect major, deltoid
Insertion = muscles of the face
Action = depress corners of the mouth, assist in depression of the jaw (test = tighten jaw)
Innervation = facial N (cranial nerve)
Discuss the sternocleidomastoid
Origin = sternum, clavicle
Inserts = mastoid process
Action = lateral neck flexion, tilting chin to contralateral side. Both contraction = movement at the atlanto-occipital joint, and flexion for the neck (test = hand on pt neck and turn to look over shoulder)
Innervation = accessory N
Discuss the trapezius
Origin = superior nuceal line, external occipital protrubance, spinal process T spine
Insertion = spine of scapular, lateral 3rd of clavicle, acromion
Action = elevation of shoulders (test = shrug against resistance)
Innervation = accessory N
What is torticollis?
Distonic condition defined by asymmetrical head position
Distonic = abnormally contracting of its own accord
What are the triangles of the neck?
Anterior triangle
posterior triangle
carotid
What are the borders of the anterior triangle?
Anterior margin of SCM
Inferior margin of mandible
Midline of neck
What are the borders of the posterior triangle?
Anterior margin of trapezius
Clavicle
Posterior margin of SCM
What is the hyoid bone?
U shaped bone of the anterior neck
Base of the mandible (C3)
Discuss the omohyoid
Infra-hyoid
Runs behind SCM
Runs through posterior triangle
Discuss the digastric
Supra-hyoid
2 muscular bellies
What are the borders of the carotid triangle?
Lat = Medial border of SCM
Inf = Superior belly of Omohyoid
Sup = Posterior belly of the Digastric
What is the contents of the carotid triangle?
Common carotid artery which within bifurcates to external and internal carotid arteries
Internal jugular vein
Hypoglossal N, Vagus N
What tissue type of the superficial cervical fascia?
Loose CT
What tissue type of the deep cervical facia?
Dense CT
What is the contents of the superficial cervical fascia?
Includes fat, platysma, cutaneous nerves, lymph nodes and superficial blood vessels
What are the layers of the deep cervical fascia?
Investing layer
Carotid sheath
Pre tracheal fascia
Pre vertebral fascia
Label this cross section of the neck


What is the retropharyngeal space?
A space between the pretrachel and prevertebral fascial layers
What is mediastinitus?
Inflam of tissues in the mediastinum
Can be caused by infections in the retropharyngeal and pre tracheal space extending inferiorly
What is the nerve of facial expression?
Facial N (VII CN)
What is the nerve of mastication?
Trigeminal (CN V)
What is the main sensory N of the face?
Trigeminal N (V CN)