Regional Anatomy of the Neck Flashcards
What are the three regions of the neck?
Prevertebral region (in front of the vertebral column) Vertebral region Postvertebral region (posterior to the vertebral column)
What are the boundaries of the root of the neck?
Inferior: thoracic inlet & apices (apex) of the lungs
Superior: C6/7 where trachea and oesophagus have their origin
Posterior: body of T1
Lateral: 1st pair of ribs and costal cartilages
Anterior: manubrium
What are the central structures of the root of the neck?
trachea
oesophagus
right and left recurrent laryngeal nerves
right and left sympathetic trunks
thyroid gland
paired lobes of the thymus or its remnant
infrahyoid muscles
What are the bilateral structures of the root of the neck?
scalenus anterior common carotid artery internal jugular vein subclavian artery and its branches subclavian vein and its tributaries brachiocephalic vein vagus nerve phrenic nerve roots and trunks of the brachial plexus
What are the unilateral structures of the root of the neck?
thoracic duct
right lymphatic duct
What is the carotid sheath?
a thick fascial layer of connective tissues also called the deep cervical fascia
extends from the cranial base into the root of the neck
lies deep to the sternocleidomastoid
surrounds the internal jugular vein & most carotid arteries
protects vessels
What are the contents of each carotid sheath?
common carotid artery (bifurcation at C3/4) internal carotid artery internal jugular vein vagus nerve deep cervical lymph nodes
What are the structures from lateral to medial in the carotid sheath?
internal jugular vein (most lateral)
vagus nerve
common carotid artery
What is the difference between the contents of the carotid sheath superior and inferior to C3/4?
superior to C3/4- contains the internal carotid artery
inferior to C3/4- contains the common carotid artery
Where is the location of the carotid sheath?
lies posterolateral to the pharynx, oesophagus, larynx and trachea
extends from the base of the skull to the root of the neck
What are the anterior relations to the carotid sheath?
sternocleidomastoid
sternohyoid
sternothyroid
platysma
What are the posterior relations to the carotid sheath?
some parts of the cervical plexus
the cervical part of the the sympathetic trunk and its ganglia
scalenus anterior
What are the spinal nerves plexuses of the neck?
cervical nerve plexus x2
brachial nerve plexus x2
The ventral rami of which spinal nerves contribute to the cervical nerve plexus?
ventral rami of C1-C4 spinal nerves
The ventral rami of which spinal nerves contribute to the brachial nerve plexus?
ventral rami of C5 to T1 spinal nerves
Where do the brachial nerve plexus course?
courses between scalenus anterior and scalenus medius in root of neck
Where do the phrenic nerves originate and course?
origin: cervical plexus
Courses interiorly on anterior surface of the scalenus anterior and enters the root of the neck, then passes through the thoracic inlet and enters the mediastinum of the throax
What are the three types of innervation of the vagus nerves?
Vagus nerve (nerve of parasympathetic system)
sensory innervation (information in)
motor somatic innervation (skeletal muscles) (information out)
Motor parasympathetic innervation (organs)
Where are the vagus nerves located in the carotid sheath?
lie between the internal jugular veins and the common carotid/ internal carotid artery
What are the branches of the vagus nerves?
pharyngeal nerves
superior laryngeal nerves
recurrent laryngeal nerves (supplies motor and sensory function to the larynx)
What is the origin of the left recurrent laryngeal nerve?
arises on the anterior surface of the aortic arch in superior mediastinum (T4/5)
What is the origin of the right recurrent laryngeal nerve?
arises on the anterior surface of the right subclavian artery in root of neck (T1/2)
What are the brachial plexuses?
pair nerve plexuses; each formed by the ventral rami of spinal nerves C5 to T1
lie partially within the root of the neck between the scalenus anterior and scalenus medias muscles
What two structures do the branches of the vagus nerve innervate in the neck?
pharynx and larynx
