Posterior Triangle of the Neck Flashcards
Subcutaneous tissue comprised of loose connective tissue and fat
Superficial Fascia
Dense, organized connective tissue layer that is devoid of fat and envelopes most of the body structures below the skin and subcutaneous tissue
Deep Fascia
Deep fascia that surrounds the trapezius, SCM muscles and infrahyoid muscles
Investing Fascia
Deep fascia that surrounds the thyroid, trachea, esophagus and the posterior surface of the infrahyoid muscles.
Pretracheal Fascia
Deep fascia that surrounds the pharynx posteriorly
Buccopharyngeal Fascia
Deep fascia that is the anterior layer of the prevertebral fascia and runs behind the buccopharyngeal fascia
Alar Fascia
Deep fascia that surrounds the prevertebral and deep back muscles
Prevertebral Fascia
Column of fascia that surrounds the common carotid artery, internal carotid artery, internal jugular vein and Vagus nerve
Carotid Sheath
Space between the SCM and prevertebral muscles
Carotid Sheath
What forms the carotid sheath?
Condensations of deep cervical fascia
The carotid sheath runs from______to ________.
Skull
Middle mediastinum
These things may spread within the sheaths
Infections
Blood
Space between the trachea and infrahyoid muscles
Pretracheal Space
The pretracheal space runs from ________ to ________.
Thyroid cartilage
Anterior mediastinum
Space between the buccalpharyngeal and alar fascia.
Retropharyngeal Space
The retropharyngeal space runs from______to ______.
Base of skull
Superior mediastinum
Infections of the third molars spread to this space
Retropharyngeal Space
This space is considered the danger space because it is notorious for inferior spread of infections
Prevertebral Space
The prevertebral space is between ______ and ______.
Alar and prevertebral fascia
Infections in this space can spread from the base of the skull down to the posterior mediastinum.
Prevertebral Space
The bifurcation of the common carotid artery is at this cervical level.
C III- CIV
Zone I of the neck is found near this anatomical landmark.
Cricoid cartilage
The pharynx transitions to the esophagus and the larynx transitions to the trachea at this cervical level
CV - CVI
The angle of the mandible is the anatomical land mark for this zone of the neck
Zone II
What is the anatomical landmark for zone III of the neck?
Base of the skull
What are the boundaries of the posterior cervical triangle?
Anterior = SCM Posterior = Trapezius Inferior = Middle 1/3 of clavicle
Four cutaneous nerves that are found in the posterior cervical triangle.
Lesser occipital
Greater Auricular
Transverse cervical
Supraclavicular
All of the cutaneous nerves of the posterio triangle emerge deep to the SCM at this area
Erb’s point
This cutaneous nerve runs withthe External Jugular Vein
Great auricular
This cutaneous nerve runs horizontally toward the anterior
Transverse cervical
Where does the Lesser Occipital nerve run?
Superiorly along posterior border of the SCM
What does the Lesser Occipital n supply?
Skin of scalp at the apex of posterior cervical triangle
Where is the Greater Occipital n found?
It ascends vertically on the surface of the SCM and runs with EJV toward the ear.
What does the greater auricular n supply?
Lobe and skin of ear and angle of mandible to mastoid process
Cutaneous nerve that runs across the middle of the SCM
Transverse cervical n.
What does the transverse cervical nerve supply?
Skin of anterior cervical triangle
This cutaneous nerve generally has three main branches, medial, intermediate and lateral
Supraclavicular nn
Where does the suprascapular nerves run?
Superficial to the clavicle and deep to the platysma
What does the supraclavicular nerves supply?
Skin of the clavical area
Superficial muscle of the neck
Platysma
What nerve innervated the platysma
CN VII
What are the motor nerves of the posterior cervical triangle?
Accessory n.
Phrenic n.
Where does the accessory nerve emerge from the skull?
Jugular foramen
Where does the accessory nerve run?
Diagonally through the posterior triangle deep to the investigating fascia
What does the Accessory nerve supply?
SCM and Trepezius
This nerve descends vertically along the anterior scalene m.
Phrenic n.
The phrenic nerve is crossed anteriorly by_____ and ______.
transverse cervical a.
suprascapular a.
The phrenic nerve enters the thorax where?
Between subclavian vein and artery
The phrenic nerve travels along this to supply the diaphragm.
Pericardial sac
What are the similair origins that both phrenic n and suprascapular nn share?
Phrenic = C3-C5 Suprascapular = C3-C4
What are the vessels of the posterior cervical triangle?
External jugular vein
Tansverse cervical artery
Suprascapular artery
Where does the external jugular vein drain?
Subclavian Vein
The transverse cervial artery and the suprascapular artey both come from this
Thyrocervical trunk
What are the deep muscles of the Posterior Triangle?
Splenius Capitis muscle
Levator scapulae muscle
3 scalene muscles
Omohyoid muscle
What is the action of the splenius capitus muscle?
Extend and laterally rotate the head and neck
What in the splenius capitis innervated by?
Dorsal rami of spinal muscles
What is the action of the levator scapulae muscle?
Elevate the scapula
What is the levator scapulae innervated by?
Dorsal scapular n.
What is the action of the three scalene muscles?
tilt neck laterally
What are the scalene muscles innervated by?
Ventral rami of C3-C8 nn.
Elongated triangle deep to the posterior cervical triangle
Interscalene Triangle
What forms the interscalene triangle?
Anterior scalene, middle scalene and first rib.
What pass through the interscalene triangle?
Brachial plexus and subclavian a.
This passes anterior to the anterior scalene m.
Subclavian vein
If there is a narrowing of the interscalene triangle due to anatomical variations, the brachial plexus or subclavian artery may compress and cause this
Nerve dysfunction or ischemia
Thoracic outlet syndrome is caused by this
Narrowing of interscalene triangle causing a compromise of the nerves or arteries between the neck and axilla
