Structural Anatomy of the Neck Flashcards
Division of cervical vertebrae
- Typical (C3-C6)
- Atypical (C1, 2, 7)
Features of typical cervical vertebrae
- Small body
- Large triangular foramen
- Transverse process includes transverse foramina
Describe the Atlas
- C1
- Ring-like
- Lacks spinous process or body
- Consists of two lateral masses connected by arches
Describe the Axis
- C2
- Odontoid peg projects from anterior aspect of its body
Describe the Vertebra Prominens
- C7
- Long spinous process (hence name)
- Large transverse processes
- Small transverse foramina (do not contain vertebral artery)
Level of the hyoid bone
C3
Parts of the hyoid bone
- Body
- Greater horn
- Lesser horn
Connection between hyoid and styloid process
Stylohyoid ligaments
3 divisions of the deep cervical fascia
- Investing layer
- Prevertebral fascia
- Pretracheal fascia
Function of the investing fascia
Encloses the muscles of the neck
Superior attachments of the investing fascia
- Superior nuchal lines
- Mastoid process
- Zygomatic arch
- Inferior border of mandible
- Hyoid bone
- Spinous processes of cervical vertebrae
Inferior attachments of cervical fascia
- Manubrium
- Clavicles
- Acromions and spines of scapulae
Where does the EJV pierce the investing fascia
Below omohyoid, just above the midpoint of the clavicle
What does the investing fascia enclose
- Trapezius
- SCM
- Strap muscles
- Parotid and submandibular glands
Where is the prevertebral fascia situated
- Passes across vertebrae and prevertebral muscles
- Oesophagus, pharynx, and great vessels lie in front
Describe the lateral course of the preverterbal fascia
- Covers the cervical and brachial plexuses
- Covers the muscles in the floor of the posterior triangle
- Becomes the axillary sheath
Describe the course of the pretracheal fascia
- Anterior part of neck only
- Extends from hyoid bone to fibrous pericardium
- Blends laterally with the carotid sheaths
What is enclosed by the pretracheal fascia
- Larynx
- Trachea
- Pharynx
- Oesophagus
- Thyroid gland
- Infrahyoid muscles
Describe the course of the carotid sheath
- Extends from cranial base to root of neck
- Blends anteriorly with the investing and pretracheal layers
- Blends posteriorly with the preverterbral fascia
Contents of the carotid sheath
- Carotid artery
- IJV
- Vagus nerve
Where is the retropharyngeal space
Lies between:
- Visceral part of prevertebral fascia
- Buccopharyngeal fascia surrounding the pharynx
To where does the retropharyngeal space open inferiorly
Superior mediastinum
Bounds of the anterior triangle
- Anterior = midline of neck
- Above = ramus of mandible
- Behind = anterior border of SCM
Bounds of posterior triangle
- Anterior = posterior border of SCM
- Below = middle 1/3rd of clavicle
- Behind = anterior margin of trapezius
Origins and insertion of SCM
- Sternal head to manubrium
- Superior surface of middle 1/3rd of clavicle
- Mastoid process and superior nuchal line
Contents of the SCM region of the neck
- SCM
- Superior part of EJV
- Greater auricular nerve (C2/3)
- Transverse cervical nerve
Contents of the posterior cervical region
- Trapezius muscle
- Cutaneous branches of posterior rami of cervical spinal nerves
Divisions of the posterior triangle
- Occipital triangle
2. Subclavian region
What divides the posterior triangle into its two divisions
Omohyoid muscle
Contents of the occipital triangle
- Part of EJV
- Accessory nerve (CN 11)
- Trunks of brachial plexus
- Posterior branches of cervical plexus
- Cervicodorsal trunk
- Cervical lymph nodes
Contents of subclavian region
- 3rd part of subclavian artery
- Suprascapular artery
- Supraclavicular lymph nodes
- Subclavian vein (sometimes)
Divisions of the anterior triangle
- Submandibular (digastric) triangle
- Submental triangle
- Carotid triangle
- Muscular triangle
Bounds of the submandibular triangle
- Superior = inferior border of mandible
- Anterior and posterior bellies of digastric
- Floor = mylohyoid and hyoglossus and pharyngeal constrictor
Bounds of the submental triangle
- Inferior = body of hyoid
- Lateral = right and left anterior bellies of digastric
- Floor = mylohyoid muscles which meet at the median fibrous raphe
Bounds of the carotid triangle
- Superior belly of omohyoid
- Posterior belly of digastric
- SCM
Contents of the carotid triangle
- Carotid sinus
- Carotid body
- Carotid arteries (medially)
- IJV (laterally)
- Vagus (posterior)
- Ansa cervicalis
- Deep cervical lymph nodes
Contents of the submandibular triangle
- Submandibular gland
- Submandibular lymph nodes
- Hypoglossal nerve
- Mylohyoid nerve
- Parts of facial artery and vein
Contents of submental triangle
- Submental lymph nodes
- Small veins that unite to form the anterior jugular vein
Contents of the muscular triangle
- Sternothyroid and sternohyoid muscles
- Thyroid and parathyroid glands
What is the carotid sinus and what is it innervated by
- Dilatation of the proximal part of the internal carotid artery
- Baroreceptor
- Innervated by CN 9 through the carotid sinus nerve (and 10)
What is the carotid body
- Red/brown ovoid mass in the septum of the bifurcation of common carotid (C4)
- Supplied by carotid sinus nerve and vagus
- Chemoreceptor (sensitive to fall in PaO2)
Role of the carotid body
- Chemoreceptor that monitors blood oxygen levels
- Can stimulate increase in the rate and depth of respiration, cardiac rate, and BP
Relation of ansa cervicalis to the carotid sheath
Lies on or is embedded in the anterolateral sheath
Function of the suprahyoid muscles
Elevate the hyoid and pull it forward during swallowing
What are the strap muscles
Infrahyoid muscles:
- Sternohyoid
- Omohyoid
- Sternythyroid
- Thyrohyoid
Innervation of the strap muscles
Ansa cervicalis (C1-3)
Orientation of the cervical facet joints
Parallel with the vertebral plane
Site of surgical division of the strap muscles
Upper half - the ansa cervicalis enters in the lower half
What contains haematoma post thyroidectomy
Pretracheal fascia
List the suprahyoid muscles
- Mylohyoid
- Geniohyoid
- Stylohyoid
- Anterior and posterior bellies of digastric
Mylohyoid OIIA
O = Mylohyoid line of mandible I = Body of hyoid I = Nerve to mylohyoid (branch of alveolar nerve - V3) A = Elevates hyoid, floor of mouth and tongue
Geniohyoid OIIA
O = inferior mental spine of mandible I = Body of hyoid I = C1 via hypoglossal A = Pulls hyoid anterosuperiorly
Stylohyoid OIIA
O = Styloid process of temporal bone I = Body of hyoid I = Styloid branch of facial nerve (CN 7) A = Elevates and retracts hyoid
Anterior belly of digastric OIIA
O = digastric fossa of mandible I = Intermediate tendon I = Nerve to mylohyoid (branch of inferior alveolar - V3)
Posterior belly of digastric OIIA
O = Mastoid notch of temporal bone I = Intermediate tendon I = Digastric branch of facial nerve (CN 7)
Sternohyoid OIIA
O = manubrium and medial end of clavicle I = Body of hyoid I = Ansa cervicalis A = depresses hyoid
Omohyoid OIIA
O = superior border of scapula I = Inferior border of hyoid I = Ansa cervicalis A = depresses and retracts hyoid
Sternothyroid OIIA
O = posterior surface of manubrium I = Oblique line of thyroid cartilage I = Ansa cervicalis A = Depresses hyoid and larynx
Thyrohyoid OIIA
O = oblique line of thyroid cartilage I = inferior border and body of greater horn of hyoid I = C1 via hypoglossal A = depresses hyoid and elevates larynx
What is Berry’s ligament
Connects thyroid to cricoid cartilage and trachea
Level of common carotid bifurcation
Upper border of thyroid cartilage (C3/4)
Orientation of IJV and vagus nerve to common carotid
- IJV lateral
- Vagus posterior (between artery and vein)
What separates internal carotid from external carotid on its ascent through the neck
- Styloid process
- Stylopharyngeus muscle
- Glossopharyngeal nerve
- Pharyngeal branch of vagus
List the 8 branches of the external carotid artery
- Superior thyroid
- Lingual
- Facial
- Occipital
- Posterior auricular
- Ascending pharyngeal
- Maxillary (terminal)
- Superficial temporal (terminal)
Describe the course of the IJV
- Formed at jugular foramen as continuation of sigmoid sinus
- Lies behind ICA at its start
- Moves lateral to ICA and common carotid as it descends
- Contained within carotid sheath
- At the root of the neck lies behind the gap between the heads of the SCM
- Joins subclavian vein to form brachiocephalic vein
What surrounds the IJV on its descent
Deep cervical chain of lymph nodes
Which side is IJV cannulation typically performed on
Right side
Describe the course of the superior thyroid artery
- 1st branch of ECA
- Anterior branch
- Runs deep to infrahyoid muscles to reach thyroid
- Gives branches to infrahyoids, SCM, superior laryngeal artery to larynx