Anterior Triangle: Carotid Triangle and Neurovascular Structures

Question 1

what does the carotid triangle contain

Answer 1

thyroid gland, larynx, carotid sheath, branches of cervical plexus, superior root of ansa cervicalis, deep cervical lymph nodes

Question 2

what are the main contents of the carotid sheath

Answer 2

common carotid artery (internal and external too), internal jugular vein, vagus nerve

Question 3

where does the carotid sheath run from

Answer 3

the carotid foramen to the aortic arch

Question 4

what is the pathway of the common carotid artery on the right side of the heart

Answer 4

right side of aorta - brachiocephalic trunk - common carotid

Question 5

what is the pathway of the common carotid artery on the left side of the heart

Answer 5

left side of aorta - common carotid

Question 6

where does the common carotid artery bifurcate?

Answer 6

C4

Question 7

where does the internal carotid artery go and supply

Answer 7

into the cranium and supplies interior circulation of brain

Question 8

where does the external carotid artery go and supply

Answer 8

external cranium and has a lot of branches in the neck

Question 9

what is the carotid sinus and where is it

Answer 9

enlargement at the bifurcation of common carotid artery

Question 10

what does the carotid sinus contain and what do these do

Answer 10

baroreceptors and they monitor blood pressure to keep homeostatic values

Question 11

what is the carotid sinus innervated by

Answer 11

glossopharyngeal nerve and vagus nerve

Question 12

what is the carotid body and what does it contain

Answer 12

small organ which contains chemoreceptors

Question 13

where is the carotid body

Answer 13

at the bifurcation of common carotid artery near carotid sinus

Question 14

what do the chemoreceptors in the carotid body do

Answer 14

monitor blood gases, pH and temperature

Question 15

what is the carotid body innervated by

Answer 15

glossopharyngeal and vagus nerve

Question 16

what are the branches of the external carotid artery

Answer 16

ascending pharyngeal, superior thyroid, lingual, facial, occipital, posterior auricular, superficial temporal, maxillary

Question 17

what does the external carotid artery supply

Answer 17

the majority of the scalp and facial blood supply

Question 18

what does the internal jugular vein do?

Answer 18

drain blood from the brain, skull, face and parts of the neck

Question 19

where does the internal jugular vein run

Answer 19

exits through skull through jugular foramen and enters carotid sheath (lateral to CCA)

Question 20

what veins drain into the IJV

Answer 20

inferior petrosal sinus, pharyngeal, occipital, facial, lingual, superior thyroid, middle thyroid

Question 21

what does the internal jugular vein join

Answer 21

the subclavian vein to become the brachiocephalic vein

Question 22

what is distributed along the internal jugular vein

Answer 22

lymph nodes

Question 23

what is the inferior bulb and valve

Answer 23

a valve in the internal jugular vein which prevents backflow when there is an increase in thoracic pressure

Question 24

what muscle runs across the internal jugular vein

Answer 24

omohyoid

Question 25

where does the external jugular vein begin and what does it join

Answer 25

at the angle of the mandible and joins posterior auricular and retromandibular veins

Question 26

what veins drain into the ejv

Answer 26

posterior external jugular, transverse cervical, suprascapular, anterior jugular

Question 27

what does the external jugular vein cross over and where does it go

Answer 27

the SCM to pierce investing fascia and drain to subclavian vein

Question 28

what are the 5 branches of the facial nerve

Answer 28

temporal, zygomatic, buccal, mandibular, cervical

Question 29

what branch of the facial nerve innervates the platysma

Answer 29

cervical

Question 30

where does the glossopharyngeal nerve travel

Answer 30

exits the jugular foramen and travels downward between the IJV and ICA. Forwards to the oral cavity (tongue) but also downwards the pharynx

Question 31

where does the vagus nerve travel

Answer 31

exits the jugular foramen and travels downward within carotid sheath with IJV and CCA (ICA)

Question 32

where do the branches of the vagus nerve go in the neck

Answer 32

towards the pharynx, the carotid body

Question 33

what nerve does the recurrent laryngeal nerve come from

Answer 33

vagus nerve

Question 34

where does the recurrent laryngeal nerve arise on either side of the heart

Answer 34

inferiorly near to subclavian artery (on right), on arch of aorta (on left)

Question 35

where does the spinal nerve travel

Answer 35

exits the jugular foramen and travels downward between the IJV and ICA. Then crosses IJV to go to SCM and trapezius

Question 36

where does the hypoglossal nerve travel

Answer 36

exits the hypoglossal canal and is between IJV and ICA, then crosses the ICA and ECA on its way to the oral cavity

Question 37

what is the cervical plexus formed by

Answer 37

rami of cranial spinal nerves

Question 38

where is the ansa cervicalis

Answer 38

second level loop of the cranial plexus

Question 39

what does the ansa cervicalis innervate

Answer 39

infrahyoid muscles

Question 40

what does the transverse cervical nerve innervate

Answer 40

SCM and anterior triangle

Question 41

where is the brachial plexus

Answer 41

between neck and shoulder underneath the cervical plexus