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Lecture 13 Anatomy د. احمد فاضل

Triangles of the neck ANTERIOR TRIANGLE

Borders of the anterior triangle:

● posteriorly: Anterior border of the sternocleidomastoid

●superiorly: Inferior border of the mandible

●anteriorly: Midline of the neck

Using the hyoid as a keystone, the omohyoid and digastric muscles subdivide the

anterior triangle into:

● Submental triangle

● Submandibular triangle

● Carotid triangle

● Muscular triangle

All of the triangles within the anterior triangle are paired except for the submental

triangle, which spans the right and the left sides of the neck

1. SUBMENTAL TRIANGLE Borders of the submental triangle:

●inferiorly: Body of hyoid

● laterally: Anterior digastric on right and left

● anteriorly: midline of the neck

Floor of the triangle is composed of the:

● Mylohyoid

Roof is made of the:

● Skin

● Superficial fascia with platysma

● Deep cervical fascia

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2. SUBMANDIBULAR TRIANGLE Often called the digastric triangle

Borders of the submandibular triangle:

● superiorly: Inferior border of the mandible

●posteriorly: Posterior belly of digastric and stylohioyd muscle

● anteriorly: Anterior belly of digastric

Floor of the triangle is composed of the:

● Hyoglossus

● Mylohyoid

● Middle constrictor

Roof is made of the:

● Skin

● Superficial fascia with platysma

● Deep cervical fascia

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3. CAROTID TRIANGLE

Named because parts of all three carotid arteries are located within it

Borders of the carotid triangle:

● posteriorly: Anterior border of the sternocleidomastoid

● superiorly: Posterior belly of digastric

●inferiorly: Superior belly of omohyoid

Floor of the triangle is composed of the:

● Hyoglossus

● Thyrohyoid

● Middle constrictor

● Inferior constrictor

Roof is made of the:

● Skin

● Superficial fascia with platysma

● Deep cervical fascia

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4. MUSCULAR TRIANGLE

Borders of the muscular triangle:

● Inferiorly: Anterior border of the sternocleidomastoid

● Superiorly: Superior belly of omohyoid

● Anteriorly: Midline

Floor of the triangle is composed of the:

● Sternohyoid

● Sternothyroid

Roof is made of the:

● Skin

● Superficial fascia with platysma

● Deep cervical fascia

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Posterior Triangle

Borders of the posterior triangle:

●anteriorly: Posterior border of the sternocleidomastoid

● inferiorly: Middle third of the clavicle

● posteriorly: Anterior border of the trapezius

Is subdivided into 2 triangles by the omohyoid:

● Omoclavicular (also called the supraclavicular triangle)

● Occipital

Roof of the posterior triangle includes:

● Skin

● Superficial fascia with platysma

● Superficial (investing) layer of deep cervical fascia

Floor of the posterior triangle includes*:

● Semispinalis capitis

● Splenius capitis

● Levator scapulae

● Posterior scalene

● Middle scalene

● Anterior scalene

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Arteries of the Head and Neck Common Carotid Artery

The right common carotid artery arises from the brachiocephalic artery behind the

right sternoclavicular joint. The left artery arises from the arch of the aorta in the

superior mediastinum. The common carotid artery runs upward through the neck

under cover of the anterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle, from the

sternoclavicular joint to the upper border of the thyroid cartilage. Here, it divides into

the external and internal carotid arteries

Carotid Sinus At its point of division, the terminal part of the common carotid artery or the

beginning of the internal carotid artery shows a localized dilatation, called the

carotid sinus. The tunica media of the sinus is thinner than elsewhere, but the

adventitia is relatively thick and contains numerous nerve endings derived from the

glossopharyngeal nerve. The carotid sinus serves as a reflex pressoreceptor

mechanism: A rise in blood pressure causes a slowing of the heart rate and

vasodilatation of the arterioles.

Carotid Body The carotid body is a small structure that lies posterior to the point of bifurcation of

the common carotid artery. It is innervated by the glossopharyngeal nerve. The

carotid body is a chemoreceptor, being sensitive to excess carbon dioxide and

reduced oxygen tension in the blood. Such a stimulus reflexly produces a rise in

blood pressure and heart rate and an increase in respiratory movements.

The common carotid artery is embedded in a connective tissue sheath, called the

carotid sheath, throughout its course and is closely related to the internal jugular vein

and vagus nerve

Relations of the Common Carotid Artery

Anterolaterally: The skin, the fascia, the sternocleidomastoid, the

sternohyoid, the sternothyroid, and the superior belly of the omohyoid

Posteriorly: The transverse processes of the lower four cervical vertebrae, the

prevertebral muscles, and the sympathetic trunk. In the lower part of the neck

are the vertebral vessels.

Medially: The larynx and pharynx and, below these, the trachea and

esophagus. The lobe of the thyroid gland also lies medially.

Laterally: The internal jugular vein and, posterolaterally, the vagus nerve.

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Clinical significance

Carotid Sinus Hypersensitivity

In cases of carotid sinus hypersensitivity, pressure on one or both carotid

sinuses can cause excessive slowing of the heart rate, a fall in blood pressure,

and cerebral ischemia with fainting.

C

External Carotid Artery

The external carotid artery is one of the terminal branches of the common carotid

artery. It supplies structures in the neck, face, and scalp; it also supplies the tongue

and the maxilla. The artery begins at the level of the upper border of the thyroid

cartilage and terminates in the substance of the parotid gland behind the neck of the

mandible by dividing into the superficial temporal and maxillary arteries.

Close to its origin, the artery emerges from undercover of the sternocleidomastoid

muscle, where its pulsations can be felt. At first, it lies medial to the internal carotid

artery, but as it ascends in the neck, it passes backward and lateral to it. It is crossed

by the posterior belly of the digastric and the stylohyoid .

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Relations of the External Carotid Artery

Anterolaterally: The artery is overlapped at its beginning by the anterior

border of the sternocleidomastoid. Above this level, the artery is comparatively

superficial, being covered by skin and fascia. It is crossed by the hypoglossal

nerve, the posterior belly of the digastric muscle, and the stylohyoid muscles.

Within the parotid gland, it is crossed by the facial nerve. The internal jugular

vein first lies lateral to the artery and then posterior to it.

Medially: The wall of the pharynx and the internal carotid artery. The

stylopharyngeus muscle, the glossopharyngeal nerve, and the pharyngeal

branch of the vagus pass between the external and internal carotid arteries.

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Branches of the External Carotid Artery

1. Superior thyroid artery

2. Ascending pharyngeal artery

3. Lingual artery

4. Facial artery

5. Occipital artery

6. Posterior auricular artery

7. Superficial temporal artery

8. Maxillary artery

Superior Thyroid Artery

The superior thyroid artery curves downward to the upper pole of the thyroid gland. It

is accompanied by the external laryngeal nerve, which supplies the cricothyroid

muscle.

Ascending Pharyngeal Artery

The ascending pharyngeal artery ascends along and supplies the pharyngeal wall.

Lingual Artery

The lingual artery loops upward and forward and supplies the tongue.

Facial Artery

The facial artery loops upward close to the outer surface of the pharynx and the

tonsil. It lies deep to the submandibular salivary gland and emerges and bends around

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the lower border of the mandible. It then ascends over the face close to the anterior

border of the masseter muscle. The artery then ascends around the lateral margin of

the mouth and terminates at the medial angle of the eye. Branches of the facial artery

supply the tonsil, the submandibular salivary gland, and the muscles and the skin of

the face.

Occipital Artery

The artery supplies the back of the scalp.

Posterior Auricular Artery

The posterior auricular artery supplies the auricle and the scalp.

Superficial Temporal Artery

The superficial temporal artery ascends over the Zygomatic arch, where it may be

palpated just in front of the auricle. It is accompanied by the auriculotemporal nerve,

and it supplies the scalp.

Maxillary Artery

The maxillary artery runs forward medial to the neck of the mandible and enters the

pterygopalatine fossa of the skull.