Neck

Question 1

What is the superior limit of the neck?

Answer 1

Mandible and base of skull

Question 2

What is the inferior limit of the neck?

Answer 2

Thoracic inlet

Question 3

Where is the apex of the lungs found?

Answer 3

About 1 inch above medial third of the clavicle

Question 4

Which anatomical structure divides the neck into anterior and posterior triangles?

Answer 4

sternocleidomastoid (sternum, cleido/clavicle, mastoid)

Question 5

What is the proximal attachment of the sternocleidomastoid?

Answer 5

Mastoid process

Question 6

What is the distal attachment of the sternocleidomastoid?

Answer 6

Sternum and clavicle

Question 7

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

Answer 7

Sternocleidomastoid, midline (line from chin to manubrium), lower border of mandible

Question 8

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

Answer 8

Sternocleidomastoid, trapezius muscle, middle third of clavicle

Question 9

Function of trapezius muscle

Answer 9

raises shoulders

Question 10

Function of sternocleidomastoid

Answer 10

Unilateral contraction rotates head to opposite side. Bilateral contraction flexes neck toward chest

Question 11

What are the five groups the contents of the anterior triangles can be divided into?

Answer 11

Muscles, nerves, blood vessels, glands, skeletal elements and viscera

Question 12

What are the muscles of the anterior triangle?

Answer 12

Mylohyoid, anterior belly of digastric, infrahyoid (strap) muscles

Question 13

What is the mylohyoid?

Answer 13

The muscles that forms the floor of the mouth and attaches to each side of the mandible

Question 14

Which muscle of the anterior triangle functions to open the mouth?

Answer 14

Anterior belly of digastric

Question 15

What are the infrahyoid muscles?

Answer 15

Very thin muscles that hold the hyoid bone in place

Question 16

Which muscles make up the infrahyoid muscles?

Answer 16

Sternohyoid, sternothyroid, thyrohyoid, omohyoid muscles

Question 17

What are the skeletal elements of the anterior triangle?

Answer 17

thyroid cartilage, cricoid cartilage, hyoid bone, trachea

Question 18

Which is the largest of the laryngeal cartilages?

Answer 18

Thyroid cartilage

Question 19

Where is the cricoid cartilage located?

Answer 19

Inferior to the thyroid cartilage, superior to the trachea

Question 20

Which is the only laryngeal cartilage to form a complete circle?

Answer 20

Cricoid cartilage

Question 21

What forms the Adam’s apple?

Answer 21

The laryngeal prominence of the thyroid cartilage

Question 22

What structure connects the thyroid and cricoid cartilage?

Answer 22

Cricothyroid membrane

Question 23

Name of the procedure that pierces the cricothyroid membrane to establish an airway in emergencies

Answer 23

Cricothyrotomy

Question 24

Which glands are present in the anterior triangle of the neck?

Answer 24

Thyroid gland, parathyroid glands, submandibular glands

Question 25

What type of gland is the thyroid gland?

Answer 25

endocrine

Question 26

What envelops the thyroid gland?

Answer 26

pre-tracheal fascia

Question 27

What is the blood supply of the thyroid gland?

Answer 27

superior and inferior thyroid arteries

Question 28

Where does the superior thyroid artery branch from?

Answer 28

external carotid artery

Question 29

Where does the inferior thyroid artery branch from?

Answer 29

Thyrocervical trunk

Question 30

Structure of the thyroid gland

Answer 30

Butterfly shaped made up of a right and left lobe divided by an isthmus. Pyramidal lobe extends superiorly from the isthmus.

Question 31

Where does the thyroid gland originate from?

Answer 31

Foramen caecum of tongue

Question 32

What structure can be present extending from the pyramidal lobe to the hyoid bone?

Answer 32

Levator glandulae thyroidae

Question 33

What is the levator glandulae thyroidae?

Answer 33

Fibrous tissue that can be present as a remnant of the movement of the thyroid gland from the floor of the mouth to the root of the neck. Can be a site of thyroid cancer.

Question 34

How many parathyroid glands are there?

Answer 34

4 - 2 inferior and 2 superior sets

Question 35

What percentage of the population have more than 4 parathyroid glands?

Answer 35

5%

Question 36

Function of parathyroid glands

Answer 36

Release parathyroid hormone which increases Ca levels (needed for muscle contraction)

Question 37

What can happen if there is a change in Ca balance?

Answer 37

Tetany (involuntary muscle contraction)

Question 38

What must be checked during a thyroidectomy?

Answer 38

That parathyroid glands remain in the neck (prevents tetany)

Question 39

What type of secretion is from the parotid gland?

Answer 39

serous

Question 40

What type of secretion is from the submandibular gland?

Answer 40

Mixed (seromucous)

Question 41

What type of secretion is from the sublingual gland?

Answer 41

Mucous

Question 42

Which nerves are found in the anterior triangle of the neck?

Answer 42

Vagus (CN X), phrenic, hypoglossal (CN XII) nerves

Question 43

Which nerve supplies the muscles of the pharynx and larynx?

Answer 43

Vagus nerve (CN X)

Question 44

What are the roots of the phrenic nerve?

Answer 44

C3, C4, C5 (keeps the diaphragm alive)

Question 45

Location of hypoglossal nerve (CN XII)

Answer 45

Below level of the tongue (hypo - low)

Question 46

Function of the hypoglossal nerve (CN XII)

Answer 46

motor - innervates muscles of the tongue

Question 47

Function of phrenic nerve

Answer 47

innervates diaphragm

Question 48

Which disease involved surgically dividing the phrenic nerve as treatment in the 1950s?

Answer 48

For tuberculosis (no longer done - paralyses half the diaphragm - there are 2 phrenic nerves)

Question 49

What blood vessels are found in the anterior triangle?

Answer 49

Common carotid artery (bifurcates into internal and external), jugular veins (anterior, internal and external)

Question 50

Which vein in the anterior neck triangle drains the brain?

Answer 50

Internal jugular vein (can cause air in brain if air enters)

Question 51

How can the contents of the posterior triangle of the neck be divided?

Answer 51

nerves, muscles, vessels, lymph nodes

Question 52

Which nerves are found in the posterior triangle?

Answer 52

Accessory nerve (CN XI), parts of the brachial plexus, cutaneous cervical nerves

Question 53

Function of accessory nerve (CN XI)

Answer 53

motor - supplies sternocleidomastoid and trapezius

Question 54

Function of the brachial plexus

Answer 54

motor and sensory - supplies all muscles and innervation of upper limbs

Question 55

Where does the brachial plexus originate from?

Answer 55

C5, C6, C7, C8, T1

Question 56

How can the brachial plexus be torn?

Answer 56

Twists/injuries/trauma - e.g. motorbike accidents, babies during birth

Question 57

Structure/shape of lymph nodes

Answer 57

small oval bean shaped structures

Question 58

Function of lymph nodes

Answer 58

Filter lymph, return to larger veins, offer defence against spread of infection

Question 59

Name the main vein lymph is returned to

Answer 59

Left subclavian vein

Question 60

Why is it bad if cancer enters lymph nodes or blood vessels?

Answer 60

Cancer will metastasise (spread from one part of the body to another)

Question 61

Where are lymph nodes in the head and neck located?

Answer 61

Everywhere - pre/post auricular (occipital nodes), around internal jugular vein

Question 62

Potential causes of swellings in neck?

Answer 62

cysts, dental abscess, cancer, swelling from trauma, goitre (enlarged thyroid gland)