S1) General Organisation of the Head & Neck Flashcards
Describe the anatomical location of the neck
The neck extends from the lower margin of the mandible to the suprasternal notch of the manubrium and the upper border of the clavicle below
Which nerve innervates the trapezius?
Accessory nerve
A series of muscles attach above and below the hyoid bone.
Identify them and their nerve supply
- Supra‐hyoids supplied by cranial nerves
- Infra‐hyoids supplied by cervical nerves (C1‐3)
Identify the origins and attachments of the platysma
- Origin: lower mandible
- Attachment: chest wall
What are the actions and properties of the platysma?
- Property: superficial (lies in superficial cervical fascia) right under skin
- Action: depresses the corners of the mouth and draw down the mandible
The platysma is a muscle of facial expression.
In light of this, which nerve innervates it?
Facial nerve
Describe the origins and attachments of the sternocleidomastoid muscle
- Origin: mastoid process
- Attachment: sternum (sternal branch) and clavicle (clavicular branch)
What are the actions of the sternocleidomastoid muscle?
- Lateral flexion of the neck
- Head rotation
- Tilting chin up contralaterally
Which nerve innervates the sternocleidomastoid muscle?
Accessory nerve
Which muscle is contracted in the condition torticollis?
Sternocleidomastoid
What are the origins and attachments of the trapezius?
- Origins: external occipital protuberance and superior nuchal line
- Attachments: spine of scapula & lateral 1/3 of clavicle
What are the actions of the trapezius?
- Elevation of the shoulders (shrug)
- Rotate and retract the scapula
What happens when the accesory nerve is damaged?
Muscle wasting of the trapezius
The trapezius is innervated by the accesory nerve. How do we test the function of this nerve?
Test the actions of the trapezius muscle (shrug shoulders)
The anatomical borders divide the neck into two triangles.
Which borders form the anterior triangle?
- Inferior margin of the mandible
- Midline of the neck
- Anterior margin of sternocleidomastoid
The anatomical borders divide the neck into two triangles.
Which borders form the posterior triangle?
- Superior margin of clavicle
- Anterior margin of trapezius
- Posterior margin of sternocleidomastoid
What are the properties of the infra-hyoid muscles?
- Infra hyoids muscles are ‘strap‐like’ muscles
- They overlie the larynx and thyroid gland
What type of muscle is the omohyoid?
Infrahyoid
What type of muscle is the digastric muscle?
Suprahyoid muscle
Identify the carotid triangle
Which muscles form the carotid triangle?
- Omohyoid
- Sternocleidomastoid
- Digastric
What are the fascial planes of the neck?
Fascial planes are collections of structures enveloped in concentric fascial layers creating compartments running through the neck
What is the function of the cervical fascia?
- Forms natural planes
- Ease of movement between structures
- -* Contains spread of infection
What are the two forms of cervical fascia?
- Superficial cervical fascia: loose connective tissue (subcutaneous tissue)
- Deep cervical fascia: dense connective tissue
Describe the contents of the superficial cervical fascia
- Superficial blood vessels
- Cutaneous nerves
- Adipose tissue
- Lymph nodes
- Platysma
Describe the contents of the deep cervical fascia
- Investing layer (outer)
- Carotid sheath
- Pre tracheal fascia (intermediate)
- Pre vertebral fascia (deep)
Describe the superior, inferior and posterior attachments of the investing layer of the deep fascia
- Superior: lower border of the mandible, mastoid process, superior nuchal line and external occipital protuberance
- Inferior: upper border of manubrium, clavicle, acromion and spine of scapula
- Posterior: spinous process of the vertebrae and ligamentum nuchae
Describe the superior and inferior attachments of the pretracheal fascial layer
- Superior: hyoid bone
- Inferior: blends with fibrous pericardium in thorax
The pretracheal fascia consists of two layers.
Identify them and the structures they enclose
- Muscular layer which encloses the infrahyoid muscles
- Visceral layer which encloses the thyroid gland, trachea and oesophagus