The Neck

Question 0

Which ligament connects to the lesser cornu of the hyoid bone?

Answer 0

The stylohyoid ligament

Question 1

Where is the hyoid bone located?

Answer 1

It is located directly below the tongue and supports it for vocalization and articulation.

Located between the mandible and the larynx at the level of C3

Question 2

Causes of cervical pain

Answer 2

Inflamed lymph nodes
Muscle strain
Protruding IV discs

Most commonly caused by boney abnormalities or trauma.

Question 3

What can fractures and dislocations of the cervical vertebrae lead to?

Answer 3

May injure the spinal cord, vertebral arteries and sympathetic plexuses passing through the foramina transversarii.

Question 4

Fracture of the hyoid bone…

Answer 4

Occurs in those who are manually strangled.
Makes swallowing difficult
Makes it difficult to separate the alimentary and respiratory tracts
May result in aspiration pneumonia

Question 5

What will you find deep to SCM?

Answer 5

The external jugular vein

Question 6

What will you find in the occipital triangle?

Answer 6

Cervical lymph nodes

Trunks of the brachioplexus

Question 7

What will you find in the omoclavicular triangle?

Answer 7

Subclavian artery
(Sometimes) subclavian vein
Suprascapular artery
Supraclavicular lymph nodes

Question 8

What will you find in the submandibular triangle?

Answer 8

Submandibular lymph nodes
Hypoglossal nerve (XII)
Facial artery and vein

Question 9

What will you find in the submental triangle?

Answer 9

Submental lymph nodes

Question 10

What will you find in the carotid triangle?

Answer 10

Internal jugular notch 
Vagus Nerve (CN X)
Hypoglossal nerve (CN XII)
Thyroid gland
Larynx
Pharynx
Deep cervical lymph nodes
Common carotid sheath, artery and branches

Question 11

What will you find in the muscular triangle?

Answer 11

Thyroid muscles and parathyroid glands

Question 12

What makes up common carotid sheath?

BTW: common carotid sheath is fascia (fibrous tissue)

Answer 12

Carotid arteries 
Internal jugular vein
Vagus nerve (CN X)
Deep cervical lymph nodes
Sympathetic nerve fibers

Question 13

Where does the external carotid artery become the superficial temporal artery?

Answer 13

Behind the neck of the mandible

Question 14

What is the carotid sinus?
Nerve innervations?
What type of receptor is it?

Answer 14

It is a slight dilation of the internal carotid artery

It is innervated mainly by the glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX)
Vagus nerve (CN X)

It is a baroreceptor that is stimulated by changes in arterial blood pressure

Question 15

Where is the carotid body?
Nerve innervations?
What type of receptor is it?

Answer 15

Lies on the medial side of the bifurcation of the common carotid

Innervated by carotid sinus nerve (made up of CN IX and CN X)

It is a chemoreceptor that responds to changes in oxygen level (it imitates a reflex that increases rate and depth of respiration, cardiac rate and blood pressure when oxygen levels are low

Question 16

Path of the subclavian veins

Answer 16

The subclavian veins run DEEP to the clavicle and superiorly to the aorta and arteries

The left subclavian is involved with lymph drainage from the thoracic duct

Question 17

What is the function of the thyroid gland?

Answer 17

Basic function is the production of hormones T3, T4 and calcitonin

Question 18

External landmark of the jugular notch:

Answer 18

T2 & T3

Question 19

Level of thyroid cartilage:

Answer 19

C4 & C5

Question 20

Level of cricoid cartilage:

Answer 20

C6 & C7

Question 21

Which muscles do the brachial plexus and subclavian artery pass between?

Answer 21

The middle and anterior scalene muscles

Question 22

What is the path and function of the vagus nerve (CN X)?

Answer 22

It runs posteriorly to the common carotid and internal jugular vein.
It runs b/w the internal jugular vein and internal carotid artery
On the left, it wraps underneath the aorta and on the right, it wraps under the right subclavian…these form the recurrent laryngeal nerves which innervate the larynx to initiate speech.

The vagus nerve runs posteriorly to the mainstem bronchi.

Helps to regulate heartbeat, breathing, speech, sweating, stuff with food and digestion

Question 23

What is the path and function of the phrenic nerve?

Answer 23

The phrenic nerve innervates the diaphragm for breathing
Formed from spinal nerve roots C3, C4, C5 (keeps you alive)

Comes from the superior lateral border of the anterior scalene at the level of the thyroid cartilage (C4, C5)
Descends with the internal jugular vein in an oblique course
It ends near the thorax and lies posterior to the subclavian vein and anterior to the subclavian artery.

Question 24

What are the two largest cartilages that make up the laryngeal skeleton?

Answer 24

Thyroid cartilage (superior)and cricoid cartilage (inferior)