Lecture 1 - Neck Anatomy and Physiology Flashcards
What are the anatomical contents of the neck?
Arteries, veins, nerves Lymph nodes and lymphatic channels Thyroid and parathyroid glands Muscles Trachea, larynx, swallowing oesophagus
What are the boundaries of the neck?
Superior - mandible
Inferior - clavicle
Anterior - anterior midline
Posterior - trapezius
What boundaries form the anterior triangle?
Anterior - midline of the neck
Posterior - anterior border of the sternocleidomastoid
Superior - mandible
Can be divided into submandibular, muscular, submental and carotid triangle
What are the boundaries forming the posterior triangle?
Anterior - posterior border of the sternocleidomastoid
Posterior - anterior border of trapezius
Inferior - middle third of clavicle
What are the contents of the anterior triangle?
Common carotid artery, facial artery, hypoglossal nerves, vagus nerves, glossopharyngeal nerves, submandibular nodes, submental nodes, internal carotid artery, internal jugular vein, facial vein, accessory nerves, laryngeal nerves
What are the contents of the posterior triangle?
Accessory nerve, occipital artery, lymph nodes, cervical nerve plexus, external jugular vein
What are the main arteries of the neck and from which common artery do they branch? (At what level?)
Common carotid artery splits into the internal and external carotid arteries at C4 in the neck
How can you differentiate between the ICA and ECA?
ICA lies more laterally than the ECA initially, and the ECA is the only one that will give off branches in the neck - the ICA supplies intracranially
What branches does the ECA give off in the neck?
Superior thyroid Ascending pharyngeal Lingual Occipital facial Posterior auricular Maxillary Superficial temporal
What are the main veins in the neck?
Internal and external jugular
Internal is much larger than the external
Why is it important to understand the anatomy of the veins in the head and neck?
Useful for venous access
Can also be involved in bleeding, tumour spread, venous thrombosis which can track to the brain so must be careful when operating in the neck
What are the indications for central line use?
Struggling to get arterial or venous line in Central venous pressure Drug administration Cardiac pacing Blood sampling Fluid resuscitation Haemodialysis IV nutrition
What are the possible complications of using central lines?
Pneumothorax Air embolism Thrombosis Sepsis Chylothorax Haemotoma Cardiac tamponade False passage Line blockage
Are there many lymph nodes in the neck? What is their use?
600 lymph nodes in the head and neck
Receive lymph/tissue waste product
Drain to cisterna chyli
the drain to thoracic duct on left
How are the lymph nodes in the neck described?
In groups
In levels (I-VI)
Level I - under mandible
Level II, III, IV - thirds of sternocleidomastoid
Level V - posterior triangle
Level VI - anterior/central compartments of the neck
Describe the lymph node drainage of the parotid, occipital, superficial cervical, deep cervical, submandibular, submental and supraclavicular nodes.
Parotid - scalp, face, parotid gland
Occipital - scalp
Superficial cervical - breast and solid viscera
Deep cervical - final drainage pathway to thoracic duct
Submandibular - tongue, nose, paranasal sinuses, submandibular glands, oral cavity
Submental - lips, floor of mouth
Supraclavicular - breast, oesophagus, solid viscera
What are three most common causes of lymphadenopathy?
Infective
Malignant
Inflammatory
What is the thyroid gland?
What substances does it produce and what are the actions of these substances in the body?
Endocrine gland
2 lobes joined by isthmus
Produces thyroid hormone (triiodothyronine (t3) and its pro hormone thyroxine (T4) - responsible for regulation of metabolism) and calcitonin (acts to lower Ca and raise phosphate)
What is hypothyroidism?
Patient not producing enough hormones from their thyroid - patient feels very tired and lethargic
Rx - thyroxine