Superficial Structures of the Neck 1 Flashcards
Where does the first pair of cervical nerves leave the spinal cord and the vertebral column?
Above the 1st cervical vertebrae, between the first cervical vertebrae and the base of the skull.
How do the 7 remaining cervical vertebrae leave the cervical vertebrae?
Through their corresponding intervertebral foramina.
What happens to the spinal nerve after leaving the intervertebral foramina?
Immediately after, they divide into dorsal and ventral ramus.
What do the dorsal rami of the spinal nerves supply?
They supply the extensor muscles at the back of the neck and the skin overlying them.
In the cervical region, what happens to the upper 4 cervical ventral rami?
They branch and mix with each other before they pass onwards to skin and muscles.
What is the path of the lower 4 cervical ventral rami?
They stream towards the upper limb.
What do the lower 4 cervical ventral rami join with?
They join with the 1st thoracic ventral ramus and they form a plexus that supplies the arm.
What is the cervical plexus formed off?
It is formed off the upper 4 ventral rami.
What is the brachial plexus formed off?
It is formed of the lower 4 rami together with the 1st thoracic ramus.
What do each of the transverse processes of the cervical vertebrae have?
They have a foramen in them for the vertebral arteries.
What do each of the transverse processes end in?
They end in 2 tubercules – an anterior and a posterior tubercule.
How do the cervical ventral rami pass out over the transverse processes?
They pass out in a shallow gutter between the anterior and posterior tubercules.
Where do the scalene muscles originate from?
They originate from the 2 tubercules of the transverse processes of the cervical vertebrae.
Where do the scalene muscle run to?
They run from the cervical vertebral column to the 1st and 2nd ribs.
Where do the scalene muscles lie?
They lie at the sides of the vertebral column.
Where do the scalenus anterior muscles attach to?
They attach to the anterior tubercules.
Where does the scalenus medius attach to?
They attach to the posterior tubercules.
Other than the scalenus medius, what other muscles attach to the posterior tubercules?
- scalenus posterior
- levator scapulae
How do the ventral rami of the cervical spinal nerves emerge into the neck?
They emerge between the scalenus anterior and the scalenus medius.
What do the upper 4 ventral rami give branches to supply?
Their branches supply many muscles in the neck and also the skin of the sides and the front of the neck.