Posterior Triangle

Question 1

What is the anterior boarder of the posterior triangle of the neck?

Answer 1

Posterior boarder of sternocleidomastoid

Question 2

What is the posterior boarder of the posterior triangle of the neck?

Answer 2

Anterior boarder of the trapezius muscle

Question 3

What is the inferior boarder of the posterior triangle of the neck?

Answer 3

Middle 1/3 of the clavicle

Question 4

What are the 2 sub triangles found within the posterior triangle of the neck?

Answer 4

1. Supraclavicular triangle

2. Occipital triangle

Question 5

What divides the posterior triangle into 2 sub triangles?

Answer 5

Inferior belly of omohyoid

Question 6

What are the 3 things which form the roof of the posterior triangle?

Answer 6

1. Skin
2. Superficial fascia
3. Investing layer of deep cervical fascia

Question 7

What 3 things are found in the superficial fascia?

Answer 7

1. Platysma muscle
2. External jugular vein
3. Cutaneous branches of cervical plexus

Question 8

What are the 4 cutaneous branches of the cervical plexus?

Answer 8

1. Lesser occipital nerve
2. Greater auricular nerve
3. Transverse cervical nerve
4. Supraclavicular nerve

Question 9

What are the 3 muscular branches of the cervical plexus?

Answer 9

1. Phrenic
2. Branches to prevertebral muscles
3. Ansa cervicalis

Question 10

What cervical nerves form the phrenic nerve?

Answer 10

C3 - C5

Question 11

What does the phrenic nerve supply?

Answer 11

Diaphragm

Question 12

What cervical nerves form the ansa cervicalis?

Answer 12

C1 - C3

Question 13

Where do the cutaneous branches of the cervical plexus appear?

Answer 13

Middle of the posterior boarder of the sternocleidomastoid

Question 14

What 3 areas of skin does the greater auricular nerve supply?

Answer 14

1. Skin covering angle of mandible
2. Lower part of the ear
3. Skin behind the ear

Question 15

What is the course of the greater auricular nerve after emerging from the middle of the posterior boarder of sternocleidomastoid?

Answer 15

Runs upward, superficial to the sternocleidomastoid

Question 16

What area of skin does the lesser occipital nerve supply?

Answer 16

Skin behind the ear

Question 17

What is the course of the lesser occipital nerve after emerging from the middle of the posterior boarder of sternocleidomastoid?

Answer 17

Ascends along posterior boarder of sternocleidomastoid

Question 18

What are the 3 different supraclavicular nerves?

Answer 18

1. Medial
2. Intermediate
3. Lateral

Question 19

What 2 areas of skin does the supraclavicular nerve supply?

Answer 19

1. Pectoral region

2. Skin covering deltoid (lateral supraclavicular only)

Question 20

What is the course of the supraclavicular nerve after emerging from the middle of the posterior boarder of sternocleidomastoid?

Answer 20

Arise by a common trunk which divides and the branches then cross the clavicle

Question 21

What area of the skin does the transverse cervical nerve supply?

Answer 21

Anterolateral part of the neck

Question 22

What is the course of the transverse cervical nerve after emerging from the middle of the posterior boarder of sternocleidomastoid?

Answer 22

Runs forward superficial to sternocleidomastoid before dividing into ascending and descending branches

Question 23

What 4 muscles form the floor of the posterior triangle?

Answer 23

1. Scalenus medius
2. Levator scapulae
3. Splenius capitis
4. Semispinalis capitis

Question 24

What are the 3 major nerves found in the posterior triangle?

Answer 24

1. Brachial plexus
2. Spinal part of accessory nerve
3. Cutaneous branch of cervical plexus

Question 25

What is the major muscle found in the posterior triangle?

Answer 25

Inferior belly of omohyoid muscle

Question 26

What are the 5 major vessels found in the posterior triangle?

Answer 26

1. Third part of subclavian artery 2. Occipital artery 3. Suprascapular artery 4. Subclavian vein 5. External jugular vein

Question 27

What is the course of the spinal part of accessory nerve?

Answer 27

1. Crosses posterior triangle obliquely lying on levator scapulae 2. Disappears under trapezius muscle

Question 28

Describe the position of the third part of the subclavian artery

Answer 28

1. Lies on upper surface of first rib | 2. Lies behind subclavian vein

Question 29

What is the only tributary of the subclavian vein?

Answer 29

External jugular vein

Question 30

What are the 3 branches of the first part of the subclavian artery?

Answer 30

1. Vertebral artery 2. Internal thoracic artery 3. Thyrocervical trunk

Question 31

What are the 3 branches of the thyrocervical trunk?

Answer 31

1. Inferior thyroid artery 2. Transverse cervical artery 3. Suprascapular artery

Question 32

What is the trunk given from the second part of the subclavian artery?

Answer 32

Costocervical trunk

Question 33

What artery is given from the third part of the subclavian artery?

Answer 33

Dorsal scapular artery

Question 34

What surgery can put the spinal part of accessory nerve at risk?

Answer 34

Surgery of deep cervical lymph nodes

Question 35

What can occur if the spinal part of accessory nerve is damaged?

Answer 35

Paralysis of the trapezius muscle so arm cannot be abducted beyond 90 degrees

Question 36

What are 2 clinical things of importance of the external jugular vein?

Answer 36

1. Jugular venous pressure can be examined | 2. If cut, it cannot close and air is sucked in causing air embolism

Question 37

What are the 2 types of torticollis?

Answer 37

1. Congenital muscular | 2. Acquired acute

Question 38

What can cause congenital muscular torticollis?

Answer 38

A mass in the sternocleidomastoid

Question 39

What are 2 types of brachial plexus block?

Answer 39

1. Interscalene block | 2. Supraclavicular block

Question 40

What are 3 differences between an interscalene block and supraclavicular block?

Answer 40

1. Onset of block is earlier in supraclavicular block 2. All of the dermatome is anesthetised in the interscalene block 3. Duration of sensory block is prolonged in supraclavicular block