Neck Flashcards
What are the boundaries of the neck
What is its function?
Roof => base of skull, mandible
Floor => clavicles and top of sternum
Communication between head structures and the body
Cervical vertebrae support weight of head
Describe the surface anatomy of the neck
-what bony landmarks can we feel
Coracoid process under clavicle
Acromial end of the clavicle
Jugular notch
Cricoid cartilage
Hyoid bone
Greater horn of hyoid
Transverse process of atlas
Mastoid process
External occipital protuberence
Describe the 4 compartments of the neck
-what can you find here
1 visceral on the anterior side
- Apex of lungs
- Trachea, larynx, pharynx, thyroid
- Esophagus
2 vascular lateral to the visceral compartment
-Carotid sheath
1 vertebral on the posterior side => flexibility, mv and support
- cervical vertebrae => flexibility and support
- sternocleidomastoid, trapezius around posterior and lateral
How do the cervical vertebrae support the head
-what structures are involved
How does the cervical vertebrae differ from the other vertebrae?
Atlas and axis have no intervertebral discs, only supported by synovial joints and ligaments
- occipital condyles rest on lateral aspects of the atlas and axis
- weight on axis converges on 1 synovial joint onto C3
The presence of the transverse foramen for the vertebral arteries
What are the layers that surround the superficial cervical fascia
-what can be found here
Between dermis and deep cervical fascia
- cutaneous nerves
- superficial veins (EJV)
- superficial lymph nodes
- fat
- platysma
Describe the attachments of the platysma
What is its function
What happens when it is paralysed
Attachments
-clavicles, mandible, deltoid
Tense skin
Depress mandible
Generating facial expressions
Damage to the VII => visible skin droop
What are the layers that surround the deep cervical fascia
-what can be found here
Deep to superficial and platysma
-structures enclosed in tough fascia
Sternocleidomastoid
- unilateral => lateral flexion and contralateral rotation
- bilateral => stabilise/flex head
Trapezius
-moves scapula
Post and prevertebral muscles
-stabilise head
Why is the neck vulnerable to damage
How can we use this medically
Cervical vertebrae offer little protection to viscera, vasculature => vulnerable to injury
Large vessels are very superficial => good pulse point, central line insertion point
Trachea is easy to access for emergency cricothyrotomy
Thyroid gland easy to access
Where are the boundaries of the anterior triangle
-what structures can be found here
Median vertical line on neck
Inferior margin of mandible
Anterior margin of SCM
- muscles attaching to the hyoid
- carotids, IJV (drain anterior neck), X
- upper resp, GI, thyroid, parathyroid
Describe the nervous innervation of the neck
- what are the functions of posterior branches
- what are the functions of the anterior branches
CN VII-XII
C1-8 => anterior, posterior branches
Posterior => extensor muscles of spine, cutaneous for posterior scalp, neck
-C1 only has motor function
Anterior => cervical, brachial plexus
Describe the structure of the cervical plexus
- what are the 4 key cutaneous branches
- what are the key motor branches
C1-4
- superficial group => anterior, lateral skin
- deep => muscles of neck
Cutaneous
- Lesser occipital
- Greater auricular
- Transverse nerve of neck
- Supraclavicular
Motor
- Phrenic
- Ansa cervicalis =>suprahyoid and infrahyoid, thyroid cartilage movement
Describe the structures of the brachial plexus
-what do the do
Anterior rami of C5-T1 => supply upper arm
What are the boundaries of the posterior triangle
-what structures can be found here
Middle 1/3 of clavicle
Anterior of trapezius
Posterior margin of sternocleidomastoid
- XI => crosses triangle vertically from posterior border of SCM to anterior border of trapezius
- 4 superficial branches of the cervical plexus => emerge around the posterior border of SCM
- EJV => passes obliquely down SCM to enter posterior triangle
What are the contents of the carotid sheath
Common carotid
Internal carotid
Vagus
R, L recurrent laryngeal
Internal jugular
Deep cervical lymph nodes
Describe the lymphatic drainage of the head and neck
Deep cervical lymph nodes => jugular trunk => subclavian vein
