Organisation of the Neck & Posterior triangle Flashcards
What are the superior boundaries of the neck?
base of skull & inferior border of mandible
what are the inferior boundaries of the neck?
- top of sternum
- clavicle
- acromion (anterior)
- C7 (posterior)
what are the different compartments of the neck & where do they lie?
Midline:
- visceral compartment
- vertebral compartment
Lateral:
- vascular compartment
what is the neck fascia?
thin casing of connective tissue that surrounds compartments (vertical columns) of neck
what is the function of neck fascia?
- provides containment and protection for muscles/viscera & conduit for neurovascular structures
- provides slipperiness that allow structures to slide over each other
what is the neck fascia divided into?
superficial fascia & deep fascia
what is the superficial neck fascia?
cervical subcutaneous connective tissue that is continuous with superficial fascia of thorax
what does the superficial neck fascia contain?
- cutaneous nerves
- vessels
- superficial lymph nodes & fat
- platysma
what are the cutaneous nerves of the cervical plexus?
- lesser occipital
- great auricular
- transverse cervical
- supraclavicular
what does the superficial neck fascia connect to?
mandible and facial muscles
what are the deep fascia of the neck divided into?
- investing
- pretracheal
- prevertebral
also makes up the carotid sheathe
where is the investing layer of deep fascia located?
surrounds neck completely
- splits into superficial and deep layers to enclose muscles
what muscles does the investing layer of deep fascia enclose?
- sternocleidomastoid muscle
- trapezius muscle
what glands does the investing layer of deep neck fascia enclose?
- parotid glands
- submandibular glands
what is the investing layer of deep neck fascia pierced by?
- external & anterior jugular veins
- cervical plexus
what are the superior attachments of the investing layer of deep neck fascia?
- superior nuchal line of occipital bone
- mastoid process of temporal bone
- zygomatic arches
- inferior border of mandible
what are the inferior attachments of the investing layer of deep neck fascia?
- spine of scapula
- acromion
- clavicle
- manubrium (posteriorly and anteriorly)
what is the anterior attachment of the investing layer of deep neck fascia?
hyoid bone
what forms the suprasternal space?
the investing layer of deep fascia that divides posteriorly and anteriorly to enclose the heads of the sternocleidomastoid muscle
what are the posterior attachments of the investing layer of deep neck fascia?
Posteriorly continuous with
- ligamentum nuchae
- periosteum of C7 spinous process
what is the pretracheal layer of deep neck fascia divided into?
- visceral part
- muscular part
what does the visceral part of the pretracheal layer of deep neck fascia enclose?
- trachea
- oesophagus
- thyroid gland
what does the muscular part of the pretracheal layer of deep neck fascia enclose?
- infrahyoid muscles (separates them from trachea & thyroid)
what is the function of the pretracheal layer of deep neck fascia?
forms pulley (trochlea) for intermediate tendon of digastric which suspends the hyoid
where does the pretracheal layer of deep neck fascia extend from?
from the hyoid bone to the upper thoracic cavity
what does the pretracheal layer of deep neck fascia laterally fuse with?
- alar fascia
- carotid sheaths
what does the prevertebral layer of deep neck fascia surround?
- vertebral column
- pre & post-vertebral muscles
what is the prevertebral layer of deep neck fascia pierced by?
- cutaneous branches of cervical plexus
- cervical parts of sympathetic trunk
where is the prevertebral layer of deep neck fascia superiorly fixed to?
cranial base
what does the prevertebral layer of deep neck fascia blend with inferiorly?
- endothoracic fascia
- anterior longitudinal ligament
what does the carotid sheath have boundaries with?
all three layers of deep cervical fascia
- investing & pretracheal anteriorly
- prevertebral posteriorly
what does the carotid sheath connect?
connects cranial cavity with mediastinum (thorax)
what is the anterior triangle of the neck bounded by?
bounded by inferior border of mandible, anterior border of sternocleidomastoid muscle and midline of neck
what are the posterior triangles of the neck bounded by?
- posterior border of sternocleidomastoid
- middle third of clavicle
- anterior border of trapezius
