Triangles of the Neck and Larynx Flashcards
Vertebral level C3-4 marked by
Body of hyoid bone
Upper margin of thyroid cartilage
Bifurcation of common carotid artery
Vertebral level C5-6 marked by
Arch of cricoid cartilage
Superior end of esophagus
Superior end of trachea
Posterior triangle borders
Anterior- posterior sternocleidomastoid
Posterior- anterior trapezius
Inferior- clavicle
Anterior triangle borders
Midline of neck
Sternocleidomastoid
Lower border of mandible
Submandibular division of anterior triangle borders, floor, contents
Anterior belly of digastric muscle
Posterior belly of digastric
Inferior border of mandible
Floor- Mylohyoid, hypoglossus, middle pharyngeal constrictor
Contents- submandibular gland & lymph nodes, hypoglossal N, nerve to mylohyoid, parts of facial A/V
Submental division of anterior triangle borders, floor, contents
Midline of neck Anterior belly of digastric Body of hyoid Floor- Mylohyoid muscles Contents- submental lymph nodes and small veins that unite to form anterior jugular vein
Carotid division of anterior triangle borders, floor
Posterior belly of digastric
Superior belly of omohyoid
Sternocleidomastoid
Floor- thyrohyoid, hyoglossus, middle/inferior constrictor muscles of pharynx
Muscular division of anterior triangle borders, muscles
Body of hyoid
Superior belly of omohyoid
Sternocleidomastoid
Muscles- sternohyoid, sternothyroid, thyrohyoid
Posterior triangle roof and floor
Floor- semispinalis capitis, splenius capitis, levator scapula, posterior/middle/anterior scalene
Roof- skin, superficial fascia, platysma, investing layer of deep fascia
Arteries in posterior triangle
Subclavian Thyrocervical trunk Transverse cervical Dorsal scapular Suprascapular Part of occipital artery
Transverse cervical artery path
Runs superficially and laterally across the phrenic nerve and anterior scalene muscle
Suprascapular artery path
Branch of the thyrocervical trunk, passes inferiolaterally across the anterior scalene muscle and phrenic nerve. Travels with suprascapular nerve
Veins of posterior triangle
External jugular and subclavian
EJV begins inferior to angle of mandible by union of posterior retromandibular vein with posterior auricular vein anterior to SCM. Drains into subclavian vein
Subclavian is anterior to anterior scalene muscle and joins with internal jugular vein to form brachiocephalic vein.
Nerves of the posterior triangle
Spinal accessory, roots and trunks of brachial plexus, phrenic
Lessor occipital- skin of neck and scalp posterior to auricle
Great auricular- skin and sheath over parotid gland, mastoid process, auricle and angle of mandible
Transverse cervical- skin of anterior cervical region
Supraclavicular- skin over the clavicle and shoulder
Spinal accessory nerve path
Deep to SCM, lies in deep fascia, enters trapezius
Phrenic nerve path
Anterior to anterior scalene muscle, supplies diaphragm
Torticollis
Contraction or shortening of SCM that causes the head to tilt towards and the face to turn away from the affected side
Suprahyoid muscles
Located in anterior triangle, elevate hyoid and larynx Mylohyoid Stylohyoid Digastric anterior/posterior bellies Geniohyoid
Infrahyoid muscles
Located in anterior triangle, depress hyoid and larynx Sternohyoid Omohyoid Sternothyroid Thyrohyoid
Arteries of the anterior triangle
Common carotid- bifurcates into internal and external carotid at C3-4
Internal carotid does not branch in neck, contains carotid sinus (baroreceptor) in proximal portion and carotid body (chemoreceptor) in cleft between ICA/ECA
External carotid artery branches and description
Superior thyroid- gives rise to superior laryngeal, supplies thyroid
Lingual- anterior to middle pharyngeal constrictor, deep to hypoglossal nerve, posterior belly of digastric and stylohyoid muscle. Disappears deep to hyoglossus
Facial- gives rise to ascending palatine and tonsillar arteries, found deep to submandibular gland/angle of mandible (pulse point)
Ascending pharyngeal- only medial branch, medial to ICA
Occipital- passes superficial to ICA and hypoglossal N.
Posterior auricular- ascends b/w external acoustic meatus and mastoid process, terminates into maxillary and superficial temporal arteries in the face
Contents of the muscular division of anterior triangle
Viscera- thyroid/parathyroid glands, larynx, trachea and esophagus
Arteries- common carotid, superior/inferior thyroid
Veins- anterior jugular, superior/middle/inferior thyroid
Nerves- ansa cervicalis, external laryngeal, recurrent laryngeal
Contents of carotid division of anterior triangle
Carotid sheath- contains common/internal carotid arteries, internal jugular vein, vagus nerve, deep cervical lymph nodes, carotid sinus, sympathetic fibers
Arteries- branches of external carotid
Nerves- internal/external laryngeal, hypoglossal, spinal accessory, ansa cervicalis