Posterior Cervical Triangle

Question 1

the posterior cervical triangle is also known as the ____

Answer 1

lateral cervical region

Question 2

what forms the anterior, posterior and inferior borders of the posterior cervical triangle?

Answer 2

ant: post margin of SCM
post: ant margin of trapezius
inf: lat 1/3 clavicle

Question 3

what forms the apex, roof, and floor of the posterior cervical triangle

Answer 3

apex: superior nuchal line
roof: platysma
floor: fascia

Question 4

muscles comprising the floor of the posterior cervical triangle are surrounded by ____

Answer 4

prevertebral fascia

Question 5

the posterior cervical triangle is divided by the ____

Answer 5

inferior belly of omohyoid muscle

Question 6

name the muscles of the posterior cervical triangle

Answer 6

• splenius capitus
• levator scapulae
• anterior scalene
• middle scalene
• posterior scalene
• omohyoid (inf belly)

Question 7

innervation of longus colli

Answer 7

anterior rami C2-C6 spinal nn

Question 8

actions of longus colli

Answer 8

flex neck w/ rotation (torsion) to opposite side (unilateral)

Question 9

innervation of longus capitis

Answer 9

ant rami C1-C3 spinal nn

Question 10

innervation of rectus capitis anterior

Answer 10

branches from loop between C1 & C2 spinal nn

Question 11

superior & inferior attachments of anterior scalene

Answer 11

S: TPs C3-C6
I: 1st rib

Question 12

innervation of anterior scalene

Answer 12

C4-C6 spinal nn

Question 13

action of longus capitis, rectus capitis, and anterior scalene

Answer 13

flex head

Question 14

innervation of rectus capitis lateralis

Answer 14

C1-C2 spinal nn

Question 15

action of rectus capitis lateralis

Answer 15

flex & stabilize head

Question 16

innervation of splenius capitis

Answer 16

post rami of middle cervical spinal nn

Question 17

actions of splenius capitis

Answer 17

• ipsi lat flex & rotate head and neck
• bilat extend head & neck

Question 18

innervation of levator scapulae

Answer 18

dorsal scapular n (C5) and cervical spinal nn (C3-C4)

Question 19

actions of levator scapulae

Answer 19

downward rotation of scap & tilt glenoid cavity inferiorly

Question 20

origin of middle and posterior scalene

Answer 20

posterior tubercles of TPs C5-C7

Question 21

inferior attachment of middle scalene

Answer 21

sup. surface of 1st rib, post. to groove for subclavian a

Question 22

innervation of middle scalene

Answer 22

ant. rami of cervical spinal nn

Question 23

actions of middle and posterior scalene

Answer 23

• lat. flex neck
• elevate 1st (mid. scal.) and 2nd (post. scal.) rib during forced inspiration

Question 24

inferior attachment of posterior scalene

Answer 24

external border of 2nd rib

Question 25

innervation of posterior scalene

Answer 25

ant. rami of cervical spinal nn (C7-C8)

Question 26

arteries of the posterior triangle are branches of the ____

Answer 26

thyrocervical trunk

Question 27

the thyrocervical trunk is a branch of the ____

Answer 27

subclavian a

Question 28

name 2 branches of the thyrocervical trunk

Answer 28

transverse cervical a
suprascapular a

Question 29

describe the location of the transverse cervical artery

Answer 29

• superficial to ant scalene, phrenic n, & trunks of brachial plexus
• runs post. toward trapezius
• bifurcates into superficial & deep branches

Question 30

describe the location of the suprascapular artery

Answer 30

• post. to clavicle
• inferolat. across ant scalene, phrenic n, 3rd part of subclavian a, & cords of brachial plexus

Question 31

name 4 arteries of the posterior triangle

Answer 31

• transverse cervical
• suprascapular
• 3rd part of subclavian
• occipital

Question 32

describe the location of the 3rd part of subclavian artery

Answer 32

• lies on 1st rib
• ant to inf (lower) trunk of brachial plexus

Question 33

the occipital artery is a branch of the ____

Answer 33

external carotid a

Question 34

describe the location of the occipital artery

Answer 34

at apex of posterior triangle

Question 35

name the 2 veins of the posterior triangle

Answer 35

external jugular
subclavian

Question 36

describe the location of the external jugular vein

Answer 36

deep to platysma
superficial to SCM

Question 37

the external jugular vein drains most of the ____ & ____ into the ____

Answer 37

scalp & lateral face
subclavian v

Question 38

the subclavian vein is anterior to ____

Answer 38

anterior scalene

Question 39

what forms the brachiocephalic vein and where is this located?

Answer 39

• internal jugular v + subclavian v
• posterior to medial end of clavicle

Question 40

name the 3 general categories of motor nerves of the posterior triangle

Answer 40

• spinal accessory (CN XI)
• trunks of brachial plexus
• deep motor branches of cervical plexus

Question 41

name the trunks of the brachial plexus and their associated spinal levels

Answer 41

• superior (upper) = C5-C6
• middle: C7
• inferior (lower): C8-T1

Question 42

what motor nerve originates from the superior (upper) trunk of the brachial plexus?

Answer 42

suprascapular n (C4, C5, C6)

Question 43

name 4 deep motor branches of the cervical plexus

Answer 43

• dorsal scapular n (C4-C5)
• long thoracic n (C5, C6, C7)
• n to subclavius (C4, C5, C6)
• phrenic n (C3, C4, C5)

Question 44

sensory nerves of the posterior triangle form the ____

Answer 44

cervical plexus

Question 45

where do sensory nerves of the posterior triangle emerge?

Answer 45

nerve point of the neck (Erb’s point)

Question 46

name the sensory nerves of the posterior triangle

Answer 46

• lesser occipital n (C2)
• great auricular n (C2-C3)
• transverse cervical n (C2-C3)
• suprascapular nn (medial, intermediate, lateral; C3-C4)