Anatomy and Physiology of the Neck

Question 1

What bones make up the head and neck?

Answer 1

Skull, cervical vertebrae, hyoid bone, and bones of the middle ear

Question 2

What are the bones of the skull?

Answer 2

Frontal, sphenoid, temporal, parietal, occipital and ethmoid

Question 3

What are the main sutures of the skull?

Answer 3

Coronal suture - frontal to parietal
Sagittal suture - parietals together
Lambdoid suture - parietal to occipital

Question 4

What are the 2 fontanelles of skull?

Answer 4

Frontal and Occipital
In neonates sutures are not fully formed so have soft spots

Question 5

What are the 2 broad triangles of the neck?

Answer 5

Anterior and posterior triangle
SCM muscle is important in division

Question 6

What are the boundaries of the anterior triangle?

Answer 6

Posterior border of mandible
Midline of the neck
Anterior border of SCM

Question 7

What are the suprahyoid muscles present in anterior triangle?

Answer 7

Digastric, mylohyoid, stylohyoid, and geniohyoid

Question 8

What are the infrahyoid muscles present in anterior triangle?

Answer 8

Thyrohyoid, omohyoid, sternohyoid, and sternothyroid

Question 9

What are the subdivisions of the anterior triangle of neck?

Answer 9

Muscular, carotid, submandibular and submental triangles

Question 10

What arteries are present in the anterior triangle?

Answer 10

Common carotid - external and internal
Superior thyroid (ECA)
Inferior thyroid artery (thyrocervical trunk)

Question 11

What veins are in the anterior triangle?

Answer 11

Anterior jugular veins
Internal jugular vein
Superior thyroid vein
Middle thyroid veins

Question 12

What nerves are present in anterior triangle?

Answer 12

Vagus nerve - X
Hypoglossal -XII
Part of sympathetic trunk

Question 13

What are the 8 branches of the external carotid artery?

Answer 13

Superior thyroid, ascending pharyngeal, lingual, facial, occipital, posterior auricular, maxillary and superficial temporal
(Some Anatomists Like Freaking Out Poor Medical Students)

Question 14

Describe the internal carotid artery

Answer 14

Major branch of common carotid
Arises at carotid bifurcation
Carotid sinus and carotid body at bifurcation

Question 15

What is the role of the carotid sinus and body?

Answer 15

Sinus - detects BP change
Body - chemoreceptors for acid/ base disturbances

Question 16

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

Answer 16

Posterior border of SCM
Anterior border of trapezius
Middle 1/3 of clavicle

Question 17

What artery is in the posterior triangle?

Answer 17

Subclavian artery - third part

Question 18

What vein is in the posterior triangle?

Answer 18

External jugular vein - inferior aspect

Question 19

What nerves are in posterior triangle?

Answer 19

Accessory nerve - X1
Branches of cervical plexus
Upper brachial plexus

Question 20

What are the 2 groups of lymphatic vessels?

Answer 20

Superficial and Deep

Question 21

Describe the superficial lymphatic vessels

Answer 21

Drain lymph from scalp, face and neck into superficial ring of lymph nodes at junction of head and neck

Question 22

Describe the deep lymphatic vessels

Answer 22

Arise from deep cervical lymph nodes
These converge to form left and right jugular lymphatic trunks

Question 23

Describe the left jugular lymphatic trunk

Answer 23

Combines with thoracic duct at root of neck
Empties into venous system via left subclavian vein

Question 24

Describe the right jugular lymphatic trunk

Answer 24

Forms the right lymphatic duct at root of neck
Empties into venous system via right subclavian vein

Question 25

What are some groups of superficial lymph nodes?

Answer 25

Occipital, pre and post auricular, parotid, submental and submandibular

Question 26

Describe Waldeyer's Ring?

Answer 26

Oropharyngeal mucosa covering bed of lymphatic tissue First line defence against microbes that enter body via nasal and oral route

Question 27

What makes up Waldeyer's Ring?

Answer 27

Lingual tonsils, palatine tonsils, tubal tonsils, and pharyngeal tonsil

Question 28

Describe the thyroid gland

Answer 28

Butterfly shaped vascular endocrine gland situates in midline of anterior neck Extends from C5 to T1 Is the largest of endocrine glands

Question 29

Describe the parathyroid glands

Answer 29

Small brown oval glands situated in posterior aspect of thyroid Usually 4 glands - 2 superior and 2 inferior

Question 30

What is the blood supply of the thyroid gland?

Answer 30

Superior thyroid artery Inferior thyroid artery Thyroid ima in some people

Question 31

What is the venous drainage of the thyroid gland?

Answer 31

Superior, middle (IJV), and inferior thyroid glands (EJV)

Question 32

What is the arterial supply of the parathyroid gland?

Answer 32

Inferior thyroid artery

Question 33

What is the venous drainage of the parathyroid glands?

Answer 33

Superior, middle and inferior thyroid veins