Neck Flashcards
Which structures pass through the transverse foramina of the cervical vertebrae?
Vertebral artery, vein and sympathetic nerves
Which spinal level is the thyroid gland?
C5-T1
Which type of neck lump rises on tongue protrusion?
Thyroglossal cyst
Which artery does the superior thyroid artery arise from?
External carotid
Which artery does the inferior thyroid artery arise from?
Thyrocervical trunk - branch of subclavian artery
Describe the venous drainage of the thyroid
Superior and middle drain into internal jugular vein
Inferior drains into brachiocephalic vein
Which lymph nodes does the thyroid drain to?
Paratracheal
Deep cervical
Which embryological structure are the superior parathyroid glands derived from?
Fourth pharyngeal pouch
Which embryological structure are the inferior parathyroid glands derived from?
Third pharyngeal pouch
Which artery is the main blood supply to the parathyroid glands?
Inferior thyroid artery
What spinal level is the hyoid bone?
C3
Which ligament attaches to the lesser horn of the hyoid bone?
Stylohyoid
What is the function of middle scalene?
Elevation of the first rib
Lateral flexion of the neck
What is the function of anterior scalene?
Elevation of the first rib
Anterior flexion of the neck
What is the function of posterior scalene?
Elevation of the second rib
Lateral flexion of the neck
Which important structures pass between the anterior and middle scalene muscles?
Brachial plexus
Subclavian artery
Name a muscle that depresses the thyroid cartilage
Sternothyroid
Which suprahyoid muscle is supplied by the facial nerve?
Stylohyoid
What is the function of the digastric and geniohyoid muscle?
Elevate the hyoid bone
Depress the mandible
Which muscle forms the floor of the oral cavity?
Mylohyoid
What are the superior and inferior borders of the oropharynx?
Superior - soft palate
Inferior - superior border of the epiglottis
What are the superior and inferior borders of the laryngopharynx?
Superior - superior border of epiglottis
Inferior - inferior border of the cricoid cartilage
How do the laryngopharynx and larynx communicate?
Laryngeal inlet
Between which two muscles is a pharyngeal pouch located?
Thyropharyngeus
Cricopharyngeus
Which nerve supplies the muscles of the pharynx?
Vagus nerve
Where do all the pharyngeal constrictors insert posteriorly?
Pharyngeal raphe
What is the action of the longitudinal pharyngeal muscles?
Shorten and widen pharynx
Elevate larynx duirng swallowing
Which pharyngeal muscle is innervated by the glossopharyngeal nerve?
Stylopharyngeus
Which nerves form the pharyngeal plexus?
Glossopharyngeal nerve
Vagus nerve
External laryngeal nerve
Superior cervical gangion (sympathetic fibres)
Which nerve supplies the anterior and superior aspect of the nasopharynx?
Maxillary nerve (V2)
Which nerve supplies the inferior aspect of the laryngopharynx?
Internal branch of the vagus nerve
Where is the arterial supply to the pharynx derived from?
External carotid artery
Which vein does the pharynx drain into?
Internal jugular vein
Which spinal levels does the larynx span?
C3-6
What is Sellick’s manoeuvre?
Pressure is applied to the cricoid during RSI intubation when a patient is not fasted to prevent regurgitation of gastric contents
What are the superior and inferior borders of the supraglottic region of the larynx?
Superior - inferior surface of the epiglottis
Inferior - vestibular folds (false vocal cords)
What is the name of the opening between the vocal cords?
Rima glottidis
What is the epithelial lining of the larynx?
Pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium
Which vessels do the laryngeal arteries arise from?
Thyroid arteries
Which vein does the superior laryngeal vein drain into?
Internal jugular vein
Which vein does the inferior laryngeal vein drain into?
Left brachiocephalic vein
Which nerve supplies all the intrinsic muscles of the larynx? (except cricothyroid)
Recurrent laryngeal nerve
Which nerve supplies the cricothyroid muscle?
External branch of the superior laryngeal nerve
Which type of vocal cord palsy is a surgical emergency and why?
Bilateral partial paralysis
Vocal cords paralysed in adducted position, completely closing the rima glottidis resulting in complete airway obstruction
What are the borders of the anterior triangle?
Superior - inferior border of mandible
Lateral - anterior border of sternocleidomastoid
Medial - sagittal line down the midline of the neck
What are the borders of the carotid triangle?
Superior - posterior belly of digastric muscle
Lateral - medial border of SCM
Inferior - superior belly of omohyoid
List the contents of the carotid triangle
Common carotid artery (which bifurcates into internal and external within the triangle)
Internal jugular vein
Hypoglossal nerve
Vagus nerve
What are the borders of the submental triangle?
Inferior - hyoid bone
Medial - midline of the neck
Lateral - anterior belly of digastric
Which structure forms the floor of the submental triangle?
Mylohyoid bone
Which blood vessels pass through the submandibular triangle?
Facial artery and vein
What are the borders of the submandibular triangle?
Superior - body of the mandible
Anterior - anterior belly of digastric muscle
Posterior - posterior belly of the digastric muscle
List the contents of the muscular triangle
Infrahyoid muscles
Pharynx
Thyroid
Parathyroid
What are the boundaries of the muscular triangle?
Superior - hyoid bone
Medial - midline of the neck
Superiolateral - superior belly of omohypoid
Inferolateral - inferior portion of SCM
What is the anatomical name for the Adam’s apple?
Laryngeal prominence
Which part of the thyroid cartilage articulates with the cricoid cartilage?
Inferior horns
Which structure connects the superior horns of the thyroid cartilage to the hyoid bone?
Lateral thyrohyoid ligament
Which cartilage does the cricoid articulate with posteriorly?
Arytenoid
Name the 3 paired cartilages in the larynx
Corniculate
Cuneiform
Arytenoid
Which structures pierce the thyrohyoid membrane?
Superior laryngeal vessels
Internal laryngeal nerve
Which ligaments free edge forms the vocal ligament?
Cricothyroid ligament
Which structure is divided to obtain emergency front of neck access to the airway?
Cricothyroid ligament
Which structure is the “false” vocal cords?
Vestibular folds
Which structure forms the vestibular ligament?
Free lower edge of the quadrangular membrane
Which nerve supplies the intrinsic muscles of the larynx?
Inferior laryngeal nerve (terminal branch of RLN)
Which muscle causes abduction of the vocal folds?
Posterior cricoarytenoid
Which muscle causes adduction of the vocal folds?
Lateral cricoartytenoid
Name the 4 tonsillar structures that make up Waldeyer’s ring
Pharyngeal tonsil
Tubal tonsils x 2
Palatine tonsils x 2
Lingual tonsil
Which lymph node does the lingual tonsil and palatine tonsils drain to?
Jugulodigastric
Which tonsil is found at the roof of the nasopharynx?
Pharyngeal
Which tonsils are commonly referred to as “the tonsils”?
Palatine tonsils
What are the borders of the posterior triangle?
Anterior - posterior border of SCM
Posterior - anterior border of trapezius
Inferior - middle 3rd of clavicle
Which muscles form the floor of the posterior triangle?
Splenius capitis
Levator scapulae
Anterior, middle and posterior scalenes
Which muscle divides the posterior triangle in two?
Omohyoid
Which two veins form the external jugular vein?
Posterior auricular
Retromandibular
Which vein does the external jugular vein drain into?
Subclavian vein
Which cranial nerve crosses the posterior triangle?
Accessory nerve
At which level does the common carotid split into internal and external?
C4 - thyroid cartilage
In which area of the neck is the carotid sinus located?
Carotid triangle in the anterior triangle
Within which structure does the external carotid artery terminate?
Parotid gland
Name the three arteries that supply the scalp
Posterior auricular
Occipital
Superficial temoral
What is the weakest part of the skull?
Pterion
Which artery do the vertebral arteries arise from?
Subclavian arteries
Which arteries converge to form the basilar artery?
Vertebral arteries
Which two veins combine to form the brachocephalic vein?
Internal jugular
Subclavian
Which ligament is damaged in Whiplash?
Anterior longitudinal ligament of the spine
Which spinal nerves form the cervical plexus?
C1-4
Which group of muscles are supplied by ansa cervicalis (C1-3)?
Infrahyoids
List the contents of the carotid sheath
Common carotid artery
Internal jugular vein
Vagus nerve
Cervical lymph nodes
