Triangles of the Neck and Larynx Flashcards

1
Q

Vertebral level C3-4 marked by

A

Body of hyoid bone
Upper margin of thyroid cartilage
Bifurcation of common carotid artery

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2
Q

Vertebral level C5-6 marked by

A

Arch of cricoid cartilage
Superior end of esophagus
Superior end of trachea

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3
Q

Posterior triangle borders

A

Anterior- posterior sternocleidomastoid
Posterior- anterior trapezius
Inferior- clavicle

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4
Q

Anterior triangle borders

A

Midline of neck
Sternocleidomastoid
Lower border of mandible

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5
Q

Submandibular division of anterior triangle borders, floor, contents

A

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

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6
Q

Submental division of anterior triangle borders, floor, contents

A
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
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7
Q

Carotid division of anterior triangle borders, floor

A

Posterior belly of digastric
Superior belly of omohyoid
Sternocleidomastoid
Floor- thyrohyoid, hyoglossus, middle/inferior constrictor muscles of pharynx

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8
Q

Muscular division of anterior triangle borders, muscles

A

Body of hyoid
Superior belly of omohyoid
Sternocleidomastoid
Muscles- sternohyoid, sternothyroid, thyrohyoid

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9
Q

Posterior triangle roof and floor

A

Floor- semispinalis capitis, splenius capitis, levator scapula, posterior/middle/anterior scalene
Roof- skin, superficial fascia, platysma, investing layer of deep fascia

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10
Q

Arteries in posterior triangle

A
Subclavian
Thyrocervical trunk
Transverse cervical
Dorsal scapular
Suprascapular
Part of occipital artery
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11
Q

Transverse cervical artery path

A

Runs superficially and laterally across the phrenic nerve and anterior scalene muscle

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12
Q

Suprascapular artery path

A

Branch of the thyrocervical trunk, passes inferiolaterally across the anterior scalene muscle and phrenic nerve. Travels with suprascapular nerve

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13
Q

Veins of posterior triangle

A

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.

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14
Q

Nerves of the posterior triangle

A

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

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15
Q

Spinal accessory nerve path

A

Deep to SCM, lies in deep fascia, enters trapezius

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16
Q

Phrenic nerve path

A

Anterior to anterior scalene muscle, supplies diaphragm

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17
Q

Torticollis

A

Contraction or shortening of SCM that causes the head to tilt towards and the face to turn away from the affected side

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18
Q

Suprahyoid muscles

A
Located in anterior triangle, elevate hyoid and larynx
Mylohyoid
Stylohyoid
Digastric anterior/posterior bellies
Geniohyoid
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19
Q

Infrahyoid muscles

A
Located in anterior triangle, depress hyoid and larynx
Sternohyoid
Omohyoid
Sternothyroid
Thyrohyoid
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20
Q

Arteries of the anterior triangle

A

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

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21
Q

External carotid artery branches and description

A

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

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22
Q

Contents of the muscular division of anterior triangle

A

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

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23
Q

Contents of carotid division of anterior triangle

A

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

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24
Q

Carotid sheath contents

A

Carotid arteries- medial
Internal jugular vein- lateral
Vagus n- posterior
Ansa cervicalis- anterior or embedded in sheath

25
Q

Vagus nerve branches

A

Pharyngeal branch
Superior laryngeal- internal/external branches
Carotid body branch

26
Q

Thoracic inlet/outlet contents

A
Apex of lung
Subclavian artery and vein
Brachial plexus
Vagus nerve
Phrenic nerve
Thoracic duct
Right lymphatic duct
Sympathetic chain
Trachea/esophagus
27
Q

Subclavian steal syndrome/vertebrobasilar insufficiency

A

Subclavian artery occlusion or hemodynamically significant stenosis proximal to the origin of the vertebral artery results in lower pressure in the distal subclavian artery. As a result, blood is “stolen” from the cerebral circulation to perfuse the arm. Blood flows up the contralateral vertebral artery to the basilar artery, and retrograde down the ipsilateral vertebral artery away from the brainstem

28
Q

Phrenic nerve importance

A

Phrenic nerve is the sole motor supply to the diaphragm, so it must be identified and preserved during surgery
Because the phrenic nerve arises from the neck, patients who suffer spinal cord injuries below the neck are still able to breath effectively despite paralysis of lower limbs

29
Q

Sympathetic trunk

A

Extends superiorly to C1 or base of skull
Superior cervical ganglion- C1-2
Middle cervical ganglion- located at C6 at the level of cricoid cartilage, smallest of the 3, may be absent
Inferior cervical ganglion- in 80% of people the inferior cervical ganglion fuses with the 1st thoracic ganglion and is termed the stellate ganglion
Located anterior to transverse process of C7

30
Q

Contents of superficial cervical fascia

A
Cutaneous nerves
Blood/lymph vessels
Superficial lymph nodes
Fat
Platysma muscle- muscle of facial expression, innervated by fascial nerve CN VII
31
Q

Investing layer of deep cervical fascia

A

Most superficial layer of deep, surrounds entire neck
Encloses SCM and trapezius
Encloses parotid and submandibular glands
Attaches to occipital/temporal bones, zygomatic arches, inferior border of mandible, hyoid bone and spinous processes of cervical vertebrae
Extends to manubrium, clavicles, acromion and spines of scapula

32
Q

Pretracheal layer of deep cervical fascia

A

Located only in anterior region of neck
Blends with fibrous pericardium of heart
Muscular layer with infrahyoid muscles, buccopharyngeal fascia and a visceral layer

33
Q

Prevertebral layer of deep cervical fascia

A

Encloses vertebral column and associated muscles
Extends laterally as the axillary sheath into the arm
Extends from cranial base to mediastinum

34
Q

Retropharyngeal space

A

Posterior to the pharynx, bound by buccopharyngeal fascia anteriorly, prevertebral fascia posteriorly and the carotid sheaths laterally
Extends superiorly to base of skull and inferiorly to mediastinum

35
Q

Retropharyngeal abscess

A

Develops secondary to lymphatic drainage or contiguous spread of upper respiratory/oral infections
Swelling can cause difficulty swallowing and speaking and can be life threatening

36
Q

Thyroid location, arteries, veins

A

C5-T1
Superior thyroid artery supplies anterior/superior
Inferior thyroid supplies posterior/inferior
Thyroid ima artery- found in 10%, anterior to trachea
Veins- superior/middle/inferior thyroid veins form thyroid plexus of veins

37
Q

Relationships- recurrent laryngeal nerves and ligaments of thyroid

A

RLN ascend in groove b/w trachea and esophagus, they pass deep to the posteromedial surface of the lateral lobes of the thyroid gland
Ligaments bind thyroid gland to trachea and cricoid cartilage of larynx

38
Q

Larynx

A

Vertebral levels C3-6
Connected to pharynx and trachea
Functions in phonation and patent airway

39
Q

Thyroid cartilage

A

Located at C4
Laryngeal prominence- adams apple
Superior thyroid notch
Superior/inferior thyroid horn

40
Q

Cricoid cartilage

A

Located at C6

Signet ring shaped

41
Q

Thyrohyoid membrane

A

Aperture for internal branch of superior laryngeal nerve and superior laryngeal artery

42
Q

Laryngeal cavity

A

Extends from laryngeal inlet, through which it communicates with the laryngopharynx, to the inferior border of the cricoid cartilage. It is continuous with the trachea

43
Q

Laryngeal vestibule

A

Between the laryngeal inlet and the vestibular folds

44
Q

Laryngeal ventricle

A

Between the vestibular and vocal folds

45
Q

Infraglottic cavity

A

B/w vocal folds and the inferior border of the cricoid cartilage

46
Q

Rima glottidis

A

Space between the vocal folds

47
Q

Cricothyroid muscle innervation/action

A

External laryngeal nerve from CN X

Stretches and tenses vocal ligament

48
Q

Thyro-arytenoid innervation and action

A

Inferior laryngeal nerve (terminal portion of recurrent laryngeal nerve from CN X)
Relaxes vocal ligament

49
Q

Posterior crico-arytenoid innervation/action

A

Inferior laryngeal nerve

Abducts vocal folds

50
Q

Lateral crico-arytenoid innervation/action

A

Inferior laryngeal nerve

Adducts vocal folds (interligamentous portion)

51
Q

Transverse and oblique arytenoids innervation/action

A

Inferior laryngeal nerve

Adduct arytenoid cartilages- adducting intercartilagenous portion of vocal folds, closing posterior rima glottidis

52
Q

Vocalis innervation/action

A

Inferior laryngeal nerve

Relaxes posterior vocal ligament while maintaining (or increasing) tension of anterior part

53
Q

Superior/inferior laryngeal arteries

A

Superior- accompanies internal branch of superior laryngeal nerve. Supplies superior larynx above vocal folds
Inferior- accompanies inferior laryngeal nerve. Supplies inferior larynx below vocal folds

54
Q

Superior laryngeal nerve

A

Branches into internal and external branches
Internal innervates sensory above the vocal folds
External innervates the cricothyroid muscle

55
Q

Internal laryngeal nerve

A

Terminal branch of the recurrent laryngeal nerve
Innervates all intrinsic muscles of larynx except cricothyroid
Provides sensory below vocal cords

56
Q

Superficial lymph nodes

A

Drain face and scalp
Occipital- drain posterior scalp and neck
Mastoid- drain posterolateral scalp
Pre-auricular/parotid- drain ainterior auricle, anterolateral scalp, upper half of face
Submandibular- follow facial artery, drain gingivae, teeth, tongue, upper lip and lateral lower lip
Submental- drain center lower lip, chin, floor of mouth, tip of tongue and lower incisor teeth

57
Q

Superficial cervical nodes receives drainage from what nodes

A

Occipital, mastoid nodes along external jugular vein

Eventually drain into deep cervical nodes

58
Q

Deep cervical nodes receive drainage from what nodes

A

Pre-auricular/parotid, submandibular and submental
Located along internal jugular vein
Jugulodigastric is most superior node at C3-4
Jugulo-omohyoid is associated with lower deep cervical nodes at C6