Organisation of the Neck and Posterior Triangle

Question 1

what are the 3 compartments of the neck

Answer 1

visceral compartment, vascular compartment, vertebral compartment

Question 2

what does the visceral compartment of the neck contain

Answer 2

respiratory system, digestive system, endocrine glands

Question 3

what does the vascular compartment contain

Answer 3

blood vessels and nerves

Question 4

what does the vertebral compartment contain

Answer 4

cervical vertebrae, spinal cord muscles and cervical nerves

Question 5

what does the fascia of the neck provide?

Answer 5

containment and protection for muscles/viscera and conduit for neurovascular structures, provides slipperiness to allow structures to slide over each other

Question 6

what is superficial fascia and what does it contain

Answer 6

fatty subcutaneous connective tissue which contains cutaneous nerves, blood vessels, lymphatics and the platysma muscle

Question 7

what is deep fascia?

Answer 7

3 layers of connective tissue

Question 8

what does deep fascia do?

Answer 8

gives protection to content, forms the carotid sheath

Question 9

where does the superficial fascia connect to?

Answer 9

mandible and facial muscles

Question 10

what are the 3 layers of deep fascia

Answer 10

investing layer, pretracheal layer, prevertebral layer

Question 11

what does the investing layer of deep fascia enclose?

Answer 11

trapezius, sternocleidomastoid, parotid and submandibular glands

Question 12

what is the investing layer pierced by?

Answer 12

external and anterior jugular veins and nerves including cervical plexus

Question 13

where does the investing layer attach superiorly

Answer 13

superior nuchal line of occipital bone, mastoid processes of temporal bones. zygomatic arches, inferior border of mandible

Question 14

where does the investing layer attach inferiorly

Answer 14

spine of scapula, acromion, clavicle, manubrium

Question 15

where does the investing layer attach anteriorly

Answer 15

hyoid bone

Question 16

where does the investing layer attach posteriorly

Answer 16

periosteum of C7 spinous process and is continuous with ligamentum nuchae

Question 17

what are the different parts of the pretracheal layer

Answer 17

visceral and muscular

Question 18

what does the visceral part of the pretracheal layer enclose

Answer 18

trachea, oesophagus, thyroid gland

Question 19

what does the muscular part of the pretracheal layer enclose

Answer 19

infrahyoid muscles

Question 20

what is the pretracheal layer pierced by?

Answer 20

thyroid vessels

Question 21

where does the pretracheal layer extend from

Answer 21

hyoid bone to upper thoracic cavity

Question 22

what does the prevertebral layer surround?

Answer 22

vertebral column and pre and post vertebral muscles

Question 23

what is the prevertebral layers pierced by?

Answer 23

cutaneous branches of cervical plexus, cervical parts of sympathetic trunk

Question 24

where does the prevertebral fascia start and end

Answer 24

starts at cranial base and ends at endothoracic fascia

Question 25

what does the carotid sheath run from

Answer 25

foramen of carotid canal to aortic arch

Question 26

what does the carotid sheath surround

Answer 26

major vasculature (common and internal carotid arteries and jugular vein) and vagus nerve

Question 27

what are the neck triangles

Answer 27

anterior triangle, posterior triangle, sternocleidomastoid

Question 28

what are the borders of the anterior triangle

Answer 28

inferior border of mandible, anterior border of SCM and midline of neck

Question 29

what are the borders of the posterior triangle

Answer 29

posterior border of SCM, muddle 3rd of clavicle, anterior border of trapezius

Question 30

what is contained in the sternocleidomastoid region

Answer 30

SCM, nerves, external jugular vein

Question 31

what is contained in the posterior cervical region

Answer 31

trapezius, nerves

Question 32

what is on the roof of the posterior cervical region

Answer 32

deep cervical fascia, platysma, superficial fascia and skin

Question 33

what is the floor of the posterior cervical region

Answer 33

prevertebral fascia surrounding muscles at the floor of the triangle (splenius capitis, levator scapulae, anterior middle and posterior scalenes)

Question 34

where are the 2 heads of the sternocleidomastoid? (the origin)

Answer 34

sternal head at manubrium and clavicular head at superior surface of medial 3rd of clavicle

Question 35

what is the insertion of the sternocleidomastoid

Answer 35

lateral surface of mastoid process and lateral half of superior nuchal line

Question 36

what innervates the sternocleidomastoid

Answer 36

spinal accessory nerve

Question 37

what is the action of the sternocleidomastoid

Answer 37

draws head forward, tilts head towards ipsilateral shoulder while turning the face contralaterally

Question 38

what is the origin of the trapezius

Answer 38

superior nuchal line, external occipital protuberance, ligamentum nuchae and spinous processes

Question 39

what is the insertion of the trapezius

Answer 39

lateral 3rd of clavicle, acromion and spine of scapula

Question 40

what is the trapezius innervated by?

Answer 40

spinal accessory nerve

Question 41

what does the trapezius do?

Answer 41

assists in rotated scapula during abduction of humerus, upper fibres elevate, middle adduct and lower depress scapula

Question 42

what are the muscular branches of the cervical plexus

Answer 42

phrenic nerve, ansa cervicalis, branches to prevertebral and vertebral muscles

Question 43

what are the cutaneous branches of the cervical plexus

Answer 43

lesser occipital nerves, great auricular and transverse cervical nerves, supraclavicular nerve

Question 44

what is the vasculature of the posterior triangle

Answer 44

external jugular vein and anterior jugular vein

Question 45

what crosses the SCM?

Answer 45

external jugular vein, great auricular nerve, transverse cervical nerve

Question 46

what crosses the posterior triangle?

Answer 46

spinal accessory nerve, external jugular vein, lesser occipital nerve, transverse cervical artery and vein, supraclavicular nerves