Posterior triangle of the neck - banks

Question 1

Vertebral body:

Answer 1

small

Question 2

Vertebral foramen:

Answer 2

large and triangular

Question 3

Transverse process: consists of:

Answer 3

Transverse foramen, terminating in anterior and posterior tubercles

Question 4

Spinous processes: short and sometimes:

Answer 4

bifid. (divide into cleft of 2 notches)

Question 5

Pretracheal (Visceral) layer:

2 parts:
what is the posterior layer called:

Answer 5

closely covers larynx and trachea and splits to enclose and form a sheath for the thyroid gland.

2 parts: a thin muscular part (infrahyoid mm.) and a visceral part 9thyroid gland, trachea, esophagus)
Posterior layer called: Buccopharyngeal fascia

Question 6

Pretracheal layer relationship to carotid sheaths:

Answer 6

the pretracheal layer of deep cervical fascia blends laterally with the carotid sheaths

Question 7

Prevertebral layer: surrounds the cervical ___ ___ which includes:

Answer 7

vertebral unit:

1.) Seven cervical vertebrae
2.) Cervical portion of spinal cord
3.) Eight pairs of spinal nerves (C1-C8)
4.) anterior vertebral muscles (flex neck)
5.) Posterior vertebral muscles (extend neck)

Question 8

Potential fascial spaces:

Answer 8

loose areolar CT fills the spaces between the various layers
They are potential spaces that can become actual spaces when invaded by pus or air (surgically)

Question 9

2 facial spaces to consider:

Answer 9

Retropharyngeal space - potential space between visceral unit anteriorly and vertebral unit posteriorly (
Alar space (danger space)

Question 10

Posterior layers of pretracheal layer in order:

Answer 10

Buccopharyngeal fascia
Retropharyngeal space
Alar Fascia
Alar (danger) space
Prevertebral fascia

Question 11

what causes the most common type of torticollis (wry neck)?

Answer 11

Fibrous tissue tumor that develops in the SCM before or shortly after birth.

The stiffness and twisting of the neck results from fibrosis and shortening of the SCM.

SCM = sternocleidomastoid muscle (2 headed neck muscle)

Question 12

Boundaries of Posterior Triangle:

anteriorly
posteriorly
basally
apically

Answer 12

Anteriorly: posterior edge of SCM muscle
Posteriorly: Anterior edge of t trapezius m.
Basally: Middle 1/3 of clavicle
Apically: Occipital bone posterior to mastoid process (middle 1/3 of SNL)

Question 13

Lateral cervical region of posterior triangle divided into:

Answer 13

1.) Large occipital triangle SUPERIORLY
- most important nerve = accessory nerve (CN XI)
2.) Small subclavian (omoclavicular) triangle INFERIORLY

Question 14

Contents of Posterior Triangle:

External jugular vein:
formed by the union of:

receives in descent:

Answer 14

1.) Posterior auricular vein
2.) Post. br. of Retromandibular vein

receives in descent: Posterior external jugular vein

Question 15

External jugular vein: receives distally: 3 tributaries…

Answer 15

1.) Transverse cervical vein - drains posterolateral neck = cervicodorsal vein
2.) Suprascapular vein - drains suprascapular back
3.) Anterior jugular vein - drains anterior aspect of neck

Question 16

Contents of Posterior Triangle:

Cutaneous nerves: Four superficial branches of the cervical plexus:

Answer 16

1. Lesser occipital nerve (C2)
   - distributes to skin of neck and
   scalp posterior to ear
2. Great auricular nerve (C2,3)
   - supplies skin of parotid region,
   the ear, and mastoid area
3. Transverse cervical nerve (C2,3)
   - supplies anterior and lateral
   parts of the neck
4. Supraclavicular nerves (C3,4)
   - supplies skin over the clavicle
   and shoulder down to rib 2

Question 17

Contents of Posterior Triangle:

Erb’s point (punctum nervosum):

Answer 17

emergence of cutaneous nerves on posterior border

of SCM midway between its attachments
- a single injection of local anesthetic agent blocks all four sets of cutaneous nerves

Question 18

Contents of Posterior Triangle:

2 different types of *Motor nerves:

Answer 18

Accessory nerve: passes through the jugular foramen. supplies the SCM muscle, crosses the posterior Δ to enter the Trapezius muscle
- runs obliquely downward along the surface of levator scapulae muscle

Phrenic nerve (C3,4,5) à diaphragm
- not technically part of posterior triangle
but near enough to be considered
- descends along the anterior surface
of anterior scalene muscle