Triangles of the Neck Flashcards
- thin CT that lies between the dermis and investing layer of deep cervical fascia
- contents: sensory nerves, blood and lymph vessels, superficial lymph nodes, fat, platysma muscle (muscle of facial expression, innervation by facial N.)
subcutaneous layer
What are the major landmarks within the neck?
- cervical C7 vertebra
- hyoid bone (body at C3-4 axial level, suspended by muscles, has greater and lesser horns)
- thyroid and cricoid cartilages (cricoid at C6 level)
- clavicle and sternum
- mandible

- superficial vein of the neck (overlies surface of investing fascia)
- junction of superficial temporal vein and maxillary vein
- runs deep within parotid gland
retromandibular vein

- superficial vein of the neck (overlies surface of investing fascia)
- crosses over upper 2/3’s of SCM muscle
- may be absent
external jugular vein

- superficial vein of the neck (overlies surface of investing fascia)
- runs off the midline to the root of the neck and connects w/ the subclavian vein
anterior jugular vein

- superficial cutaneous nerve that originates from cervical plexus and emerges from posterior margin of mid-SCM muscle
- runs along border of SCM relaying scalp sensory information
lesser occipital N. (C2, C3)

- superficial cutaneous nerve that originates from cervical plexus and emerges from posterior margin of mid-SCM muscle
- crosses SCM
- supplies skin overlying anterior triangle of neck
transverse cervical N. (C2, C3)

- superficial cutaneous nerve that originates from cervical plexus and emerges from posterior margin of mid-SCM muscle
- runs w/ EJV on surface of SCM muscle
- supplies posterior auricle and area extending from mandibular angle to mastoid process
greater occipital N. (C2, C3)

- superficial cutaneous nerve that originates from cervical plexus and emerges from posterior margin of mid-SCM muscle
- supplies root of neck in area of clavicle, acromion, and sternum
supraclavicular N. (C3, C4)

What is the nerve point of neck?
area around the mid-SCM that is used as the site of application anesthetic
- fascia of neck
- most superficial, surrounds entire neck and encloses SCM and trapezius muscles and parotid and submandibular glands
investing fascia

- fascia of neck
- located in anterior of neck and bleds w/ pericardium
- contains infrahyoid muscles and buccopharyngeal fascia
pretracheal fascia

- fascia of neck
- encloses vertebral column and associated muscles
- extends laterally as axillary sheath into arm
prevertebral fascia

- fascia of neck
- covers carotids, IJV, and vagus N.
carotid sheath

- fascia of neck
- posterior to pharynx and esophagus
- bounded by buccopharyngeal and prevertebral fascia and carotid sheath
- extends from base of skull to mediastinum
- permits movement of pharynx, larynx and esophagus during swallowing
- easy route for URI or oral infections to spread
retropharyngeal space

What are the borders of the anterior triangle of the neck?
- midline of neck (anterior)
- sternocleidomastoid M. (posterior)
- inferior border of mandible (superior)

What are the borders of the posterior triangle of the neck?
- sternocleidomastoid M. (anterior)
- trapezius M. (posterior)
- clavicle (inferior)

What muscle breaks the posterior triangle into two triangles?
What is the posterior triangle floor?
What is the posterior triangle nervous and vascular components?
- broken into two triangles by inferior belly of omohyoid M. (occipital triangle which is larger and superior to supraclavicular triangle)
- floor is prevertebral fascia
- nerves: spinal accessory N., cutaneous nerves (lesser occipital, greater auricular, transverse cervical, suprascapular)
- vasculature: EJV and suprascapular A., subclavian A. and occipital A.

What are the muscles of the posterior triangle?
- splenius capitis M.
- levator scapulae M.
- posterior scalene M.
- middle scalene M.
- inferior belly of omohyoid M.
sometimes inferior portion of anterior scalene (hidden under SCM)

What are the prevertebral muscles and their OIAN?
- posterior scalene: posterior tubercles of C5-7 transverse processes to 2nd rib; flexes neck laterally and elevates rib during deep inspiration
- middle scalene: posterior tubercles of C2-7 transverse processes to superior 1st rib; laterally neck and elevates rib during deep inspiration
- anterior scalene: anterior C3-6 transverse processes to 1st rib; laterally flexes and rotates neck, elevates rib during deep inspiration
- longus capitis and coli: spans between vertebral bodies and transverse processes of cervical vertebrae (longus capitis inserts on occipital bone); forward and lateral flexion, rotation of the head
- rectus capitis lateralis and anterior: complementary to rectus capitis posterior and obliquus capitis; stabilize atlanto-occipital joint and flex head
*all posterior to retropharyngeal space and innervated by cervical and/or brachial plexus*

sternocleidomastoid M.
- origin:
- insertion:
- action:
- innervation:
sternocleidomastoid M.
- origin: two heads: sternal head attached to manubrium, flatter clavicular head attached to medial third of clavicle
- insertion: muscle runs superiorly and inserts onto mastoid process
- action: bilaterally flexes neck; w/ neck extensors (deep cervical M.) protrudes head and thrusts it forward; unilaterally flexes head, rotates head and neck contralaterally, tilts head to one side
- innervation: accessory N. (CN XI) and branches of cervical plexus (C2-4)

- pathology of SCM muscle causing head to turn to side and face to turn away from affected side
- congenital: fibrous tissue tumor within SCM that develops in utero; shortens SCM muscle
- muscular: SCM muscle may be injured during difficult birth, tearing fibers leading to hematoma that develops into fibrotic mass that entraps part of CN XI denervating it; stiffness of neck results from fibrosis and shortening of SCM; may require surgical detaching of SCM
torticollis

What is the very general origin and route of the cervical plexus?
- originates from ventral rami of C1-4
- divides into ascending and descending branches (except C1) that forms a loop with the next one
- loops lie anterolateral to levator scapulae and middle scalene muscles
- forms cutaneous nerves of posterior triangle but also supplies adjacent prevertebral muscles, phrenic nerve, and strap muscles (ansa cervicalis)

What is the course of the phrenic N.?
What are the nerve roots of the phrenic N.?
What occurs w/ phrenic N. damage?
- course: runs anterior to surface of anterior sclene M., descends obliquely w/ IJV deep to prevertebral fascia and posterior to suprascapular and transverse scapular cervical As. off thyrocervical trunk, runs posterior to subclavian V. but anterior to internal thoracic A. as it enters the thorax
- roots of C3 and C4 of cervical plexus and ventral rami of C5 combine to form phrenic N.
- damage: severance or nerve block causes paralysis of that side of diaphragm















