Organisation of the Neck and Posterior Triangle Flashcards
what are the 3 compartments of the neck
visceral compartment, vascular compartment, vertebral compartment
what does the visceral compartment of the neck contain
respiratory system, digestive system, endocrine glands
what does the vascular compartment contain
blood vessels and nerves
what does the vertebral compartment contain
cervical vertebrae, spinal cord muscles and cervical nerves
what does the fascia of the neck provide?
containment and protection for muscles/viscera and conduit for neurovascular structures, provides slipperiness to allow structures to slide over each other
what is superficial fascia and what does it contain
fatty subcutaneous connective tissue which contains cutaneous nerves, blood vessels, lymphatics and the platysma muscle
what is deep fascia?
3 layers of connective tissue
what does deep fascia do?
gives protection to content, forms the carotid sheath
where does the superficial fascia connect to?
mandible and facial muscles
what are the 3 layers of deep fascia
investing layer, pretracheal layer, prevertebral layer
what does the investing layer of deep fascia enclose?
trapezius, sternocleidomastoid, parotid and submandibular glands
what is the investing layer pierced by?
external and anterior jugular veins and nerves including cervical plexus
where does the investing layer attach superiorly
superior nuchal line of occipital bone, mastoid processes of temporal bones. zygomatic arches, inferior border of mandible
where does the investing layer attach inferiorly
spine of scapula, acromion, clavicle, manubrium
where does the investing layer attach anteriorly
hyoid bone
where does the investing layer attach posteriorly
periosteum of C7 spinous process and is continuous with ligamentum nuchae
what are the different parts of the pretracheal layer
visceral and muscular
what does the visceral part of the pretracheal layer enclose
trachea, oesophagus, thyroid gland
what does the muscular part of the pretracheal layer enclose
infrahyoid muscles
what is the pretracheal layer pierced by?
thyroid vessels
where does the pretracheal layer extend from
hyoid bone to upper thoracic cavity
what does the prevertebral layer surround?
vertebral column and pre and post vertebral muscles
what is the prevertebral layers pierced by?
cutaneous branches of cervical plexus, cervical parts of sympathetic trunk
where does the prevertebral fascia start and end
starts at cranial base and ends at endothoracic fascia
what does the carotid sheath run from
foramen of carotid canal to aortic arch
what does the carotid sheath surround
major vasculature (common and internal carotid arteries and jugular vein) and vagus nerve
what are the neck triangles
anterior triangle, posterior triangle, sternocleidomastoid
what are the borders of the anterior triangle
inferior border of mandible, anterior border of SCM and midline of neck
what are the borders of the posterior triangle
posterior border of SCM, muddle 3rd of clavicle, anterior border of trapezius
what is contained in the sternocleidomastoid region
SCM, nerves, external jugular vein
what is contained in the posterior cervical region
trapezius, nerves
what is on the roof of the posterior cervical region
deep cervical fascia, platysma, superficial fascia and skin
what is the floor of the posterior cervical region
prevertebral fascia surrounding muscles at the floor of the triangle (splenius capitis, levator scapulae, anterior middle and posterior scalenes)
where are the 2 heads of the sternocleidomastoid? (the origin)
sternal head at manubrium and clavicular head at superior surface of medial 3rd of clavicle
what is the insertion of the sternocleidomastoid
lateral surface of mastoid process and lateral half of superior nuchal line
what innervates the sternocleidomastoid
spinal accessory nerve
what is the action of the sternocleidomastoid
draws head forward, tilts head towards ipsilateral shoulder while turning the face contralaterally
what is the origin of the trapezius
superior nuchal line, external occipital protuberance, ligamentum nuchae and spinous processes
what is the insertion of the trapezius
lateral 3rd of clavicle, acromion and spine of scapula
what is the trapezius innervated by?
spinal accessory nerve
what does the trapezius do?
assists in rotated scapula during abduction of humerus, upper fibres elevate, middle adduct and lower depress scapula
what are the muscular branches of the cervical plexus
phrenic nerve, ansa cervicalis, branches to prevertebral and vertebral muscles
what are the cutaneous branches of the cervical plexus
lesser occipital nerves, great auricular and transverse cervical nerves, supraclavicular nerve
what is the vasculature of the posterior triangle
external jugular vein and anterior jugular vein
what crosses the SCM?
external jugular vein, great auricular nerve, transverse cervical nerve
what crosses the posterior triangle?
spinal accessory nerve, external jugular vein, lesser occipital nerve, transverse cervical artery and vein, supraclavicular nerves
