Regions of the Neck

Question 1

What defines the upper and lower borders of the neck anteriorly?

Answer 1

lower border of the mandible to the manubrium

Question 2

What defines the upper and lower borders of the neck posteriorly?

Answer 2

superior nuchal line to C7/T1 disc

Question 3

What are the 4 compartments of the neck?

Answer 3

vertebral compartment, visceral compartment and two lateral vascular compartments

Question 4

What is contained within the superficial fascia of the neck?

Answer 4

the platysma muscle (blends with muscles of the face) and the superficial veins of the neck (external jugular vein and anterior jugular vein)

Question 5

What is the innervation of the platysma muscle?

Answer 5

the cervical branch of the facial nerve

Question 6

What fascia encloses all of the cylinders in the neck?

Answer 6

the superficial fascia and the investing fascia

Question 7

What is enclosed within the investing fascia?

Answer 7

trapezius and sternocleidomastoid

Question 8

What fascia surrounds the vertebral compartment?

Answer 8

prevertebral layer of fascia

Question 9

What fascia surrounds the visceral compartment?

Answer 9

the pretracheal fascia and buccopharyngeal fascia

Question 10

What fascia surrounds the vascular compartment?

Answer 10

the carotid sheath

Question 11

What are the contents of the vertebral compartment of the neck?

Answer 11

cervical vertebrae and postural muscles

Question 12

What are the contents of the visceral compartment of the neck?

Answer 12

thyroid gland, parathyroid gland and thymus

Question 13

What are the contents of the vascular compartment of the neck?

Answer 13

carotid artery, internal jugular vein and vagus nerve

Question 14

What are the boundaries of the anterior triangle of the neck?

Answer 14

sternocleidomastoid, inferior border of the mandible and the midline of the neck

Question 15

What are the boundaries of the posterior triangle of the neck?

Answer 15

sternocleidomastoid, trapezius, middle third of the clavicle

Question 16

What muscles are in the anterior triangle of the neck and what are they innervated by?

Answer 16

suprahyoid muscles and infrahyoid ‘strap’ muscles - innervated by anterior rami of cervical nerves

Question 17

What are the contents of the anterior triangle?

Answer 17

muscles, carotid system, internal jugular vein, anterior jugular vein, glossopharyngeal nerve, vagus nerve, accessory nerve, hypoglossal nerve, thyroid gland

Question 18

Where does the common carotid divide?

Answer 18

At C3/4 - upper border of the thyroid cartilage

Question 19

How can you differentiate between the internal and external carotid?

Answer 19

the external carotid branches

Question 20

What are the branches of the external carotid?

Answer 20

superior thyroid artery, lingual artery, facial artery, occipital artery, posterior auricular artery, ascending pharyngeal artery

Question 21

Which structure is more lateral in the carotid sheath - the carotid artery or the jugular vein?

Answer 21

the jugular vein

Question 22

How can you differentiate the 3 nerves which exit from the jugular foramen?

Answer 22

glossopharyngeal goes forward, vagus goes down and accessory goes back

Question 23

Where is the hypoglossal nerve in relation to the vascular structures in the neck?

Answer 23

superficial to the internal and external carotid and deep to the internal jugular

Question 24

What are the upper and lower borders of the thyroid gland?

Answer 24

thyroid cartilage above and 6th tracheal ring below

Question 25

Where is the isthmus of the thyroid gland?

Answer 25

anterior to the 2nd, 3rd and 4th tracheal rings

Question 26

Why does the thyroid gland move up and down with swallowing?

Answer 26

because it is enclosed in pretracheal fascia which is attached superiorly to the hyoid bone

Question 27

What structures can be compressed with enlargement of the thyroid gland?

Answer 27

trachea, oesophagus, recurrent laryngeal nerve, internal jugular vein

Question 28

What is the blood supply of the thyroid?

Answer 28

paired superior thyroid artery (branch of internal carotid) and paired inferior thyroid arteries (branch of subclavian) and occasionally a single thyroid ima artery which may branch off the arch of the aorta

Question 29

What veins drain the thyroid?

Answer 29

the superior, middle and inferior thyroid veins

Question 30

Where does the thyroid originate from in development?

Answer 30

the foramen caecum in the tongue

Question 31

What are the contents of the posterior triangle of the neck?

Answer 31

deep muscles of the neck, neurovascular bundle of the upper limb, accessory nerve

Question 32

What nerve descends on scalenus anterior in the posterior triangle?

Answer 32

the phrenic nerve