Oct 14 - The Neck Flashcards
Name the superior borders of the neck
The external occipital proturbance
Tip of mastoid process
Inferior border of mandible
Name the inferior borders of the neck
Suprasternal notch
Clavicle
Acromion
Spinous process of C7 vertebra
What is the platysma
Superficial muscle of the neck. It is responsible for stretching the skin of the neck
Name the fascial layers of the neck from most superficial to deepest
Investing layer
Pretracheal layer
Carotid sheath
The prevertebral layer
Describe the investing layer
It wraps around the trapezius muscle and the sternocleidomastoid muscle
Describe the pretracheal layer
Divides into the muscular layer and the visceral layer. It contributes to the carotid sheath
What is found in the carotid sheath
The vagus nerve, the carotid artery and the jugular vein
Describe the prevertebral layer
It wraps around the posterior muscles of the neck and the vertebral column
What muscles divides the neck into anterior and posterior compartments?
The sternocleiomastoid
Name the suprahyoid muscles and their innervations
Anterior belly of digastric (Mandibular branch, trigeminal nerve)
Posterior belly of digastric (Facial nerve)
Stylohyoid (Facial nerve)
Genohyoid (Spinal nerve C1)
Mylohyoid (Mandibular branch, trigeminal nerve)
Name the infrahyoid muscles and their innervation
Sternohyiod
Omohyoid
Sternothyroid
Thyrohyoid
They are all innervated by the ansa cervicalis
Why are the suprahyoid and infrahyoid muscles important?
They are important for creating flow of mouth cavity. They keep the jugular open
Name the anterior prevertebral muscles and their innervation
Longus colli (C2-C6) Longus capitis (C1-C3/4) Anterior and lateral rectus capitis (C1)
Name the lateral prevertebral muscles and their innervation
Anterior scalenus (ventral rami of C5/6) Medius scalenus (ventral rami of C3-C8) Posterior scalenus (C5-C8)
Name the nerves of Erb’s point
Lesser occiptal nerve
Great auricular nerve
Transverse cervical nerve
Supraclavicular nerves
Name the contents of the lateral triangle of the neck
Brachial plexus
Vagus nerve
Sympathetic trunk
Describe the brachial plexus
As the cervical nerves (C5-T1) exit the intervertebral foramen, they mix and create a thick dense structure. They come through the lateral triangle and innervate the arm. There is a thickening of the spinal cord at this area
What parts of the brachial plexus is found above the clavicle?
The roots, the trunks and the divisions
Name the cords
Lateral cord, medial cord and the posterior cord
Describe the nerves derived from the cords
The lateral cord and the medial cord come together to create the median nerve. The medial cord also becomes the ulnar nerve. The posterior cord becomes the radial nerve
What does the vagus nerve innervate?
The whole neck and the contents within as well as the left upper curvature of the intestine. It’s the longest cranial nerve
What is the important of the sensory ganglia (superior ganglion and inferior ganglion) of the vagus nerve?
They provide information regarding blood pressure and chemical composition
What is the sympathetic trunk?
Paired bundle of nerve fibres that run from the base of the skull to the coccyx. Within the lateral triangle, it is identified by three ganglia
What is the stellate ganglion?
It is a sympathetic ganglion formed by the fusion of the inferior cervical ganglion and the first thoracic ganglion (exists in 80% of cases). Located at the C7 level.
What does the stellate ganglion do?
It provides sympathetic efferents to the upper extremities, the head, the neck and the heart
What is the cervical sympathetic trunk?
It is located at the top of the anterior scalene muscle. It consists of the superior, middle and inferior cervical ganglia. It provides sympathetic information for the head, the neck and the heart
What’s the difference between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system?
The sympathetic nervous system makes your alert (fight or flight). The parasympathetic nervous system responses allow you to relax (rest or digest, feed or breed).
What is the pharynx
It’s a muscular tube that connects the mouth cavity to the oesophagus
Name the three parts of the pharynx
The nasalpharynx, the oropharynx and the laryngopharynx
How many sets of tonsils are there?
There are 4 sets of tonsils that create the lymphatic ring
Name the three muscles of outer circular layer of the pharynx
The superior, middle and inferior pharyngeal constrictor
What can happen if bacteria get in the parapharyngeal space?
It can cause mediastinitis, which has a 50% fatality rate
What is the larynx?
It’s the voice box; it allows us to talk
How many structures does the larynx have? Name them
6 structures: hyoid bone, epiglottic cartilage, arytenoid cartilage, thyroid cartilage, cricoid cartilage and trachea
Describe the hyoid bone
Delicate boney structure. A broken hyoid indicates strangulation
Describe the epiglottic cartilage
Lid that closes the airways when you swallow. It is important to keep the unsterile fluids and food particles out of the lungs
Describe the thyroid cartilage
It’s a protector/shield for the vocal band and it serves as an attachment for laryngeal muscles. It swivels up and down on the cricoid to change pitch
Describe the arytenoid cartilage
It sits on the cricoid. It moves left and right and up and down, which impacts the vocal ligaments which insert on the the inside of the thyroid caritlage. Movements of theses cartilages change the frequency of our voice
Name the glottic spaces of the larynx
The supraglottic space, the transglottic space and the subglottic space
All the muscles at the larynx close the vocal cords, except one. Name the muscle that opens it?
Posterior cricoarytenoid
Name the muscles that close the vocal cords
The thyroarytenoid, the transverse arytenoid, the lateral cricoarytenoid, the vocalis and the cricothyroid
Name the contents of the anterior triangle of the neck
The thyroid (and the pyramidal lobe) and parathyroid glands
Name the main arterial branches of the thyrocervical trunk
Inferior thyroid artery, the transverse cervical artery and the suprascapular artery
Name the arterial and venous branches of the thyroid
The superior thyroid artery and the inferior thyroid artery.
The superior thyroid vein, the middle thyroid vein and the inferior thyroid vein
What is the recurrent laryngeal nerve?
It’s a derivative of the vagus nerve. It innervates the muscles of the larynx (except the cricothyroid muscle). Irritation of this muscle can stop people from breathing
What is goiter?
It is the production of thyroid tissue due to a lack of iodine
What is Grave’s disease?
It is an autoimmune disease caused by a hyperactive thyroid. It can cause people to be irritable, nervous, high pulse, bulging eyes
