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Carotid Triangle
The carotid triangle (or superior carotid triangle) is a portion of the anterior triangle of the neck. Anatomy Boundaries It is bounded: * Posteriorly by (the anterior border of) the sternocleidomastoid muscle, * Anteroinferiorly by (the superior belly of) the omohyoid muscle. * Superiorly by (the posterior belly of) the digastric muscle. Roof The roof is formed by: * Integument, * Superficial fascia, * Platysma, * Deep fascia. Floor The floor is formed by (parts of) the: * Thyrohyoid membrane, *Hyoglossus, * Constrictor pharyngis medius and constrictor pharyngis inferior muscles. Contents Arteries * Internal carotid artery * External carotid artery and some of its branches: ** Superior thyroid artery, ** Ascending pharyngeal artery, ** Lingual artery, ** Facial artery, ** Occipital artery. Veins * internal jugular vein and its tributaries (correspondng to the branches of the corresponding artery): ** Superior thyroid vein, ** Lingual veins, ** Comm ...
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Anterior Triangle Of The Neck
The anterior triangle is a region of the neck. Structure The triangle is inverted with its apex inferior to its base which is under the chin. Investing fascia covers the roof of the triangle while visceral fascia covers the floor. Anatomy Muscles: * Suprahyoid muscles - Digastric (Ant and post belly), mylohyoid, geniohyoid and stylohyoid. * Infrahyoid muscles - Omohyoid, sternohyoid, sternothyroid, and thyrohyoid. Nerve supply 2 Bellies of digastric * Anterior: Mylohyoid nerve * Posterior: Facial nerve Stylohyoid: by the facial nerve, by a branch from that to the posterior belly of digastric. Mylohyoid: by its own nerve, a branch of the inferior alveolar (from the mandibular division of trigeminal nerve), which arises just before the parent nerve enters the mandibular foramen, pierces the sphenomandibular ligament, and runs forward on the inferior surface of the mylohyoid, supplying it and the anterior belly of the digastric. Geniohyoid: by a branch from the hypoglossa ...
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Facial Artery
The facial artery, formerly called the external maxillary artery, is a branch of the external carotid artery that supplies blood to superficial structures of the medial regions of the face. Structure The facial artery arises in the carotid triangle from the external carotid artery, a little above the lingual artery, and sheltered by the ramus of the mandible. It passes obliquely up beneath the digastric and stylohyoid muscles, over which it arches to enter a groove on the posterior surface of the submandibular gland. It then curves upward over the body of the mandible at the antero-inferior angle of the masseter ( the antegonial notch); passes forward and upward across the cheek to the angle of the mouth, then ascends along the side of the nose, and ends at the medial commissure of the eye, under the name of the angular artery. The facial artery is remarkably tortuous. This is to accommodate itself to neck movements such as those of the pharynx in swallowing; and facia ...
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Vagus Nerve
The vagus nerve, also known as the tenth cranial nerve (CN X), plays a crucial role in the autonomic nervous system, which is responsible for regulating involuntary functions within the human body. This nerve carries both sensory and motor fibers and serves as a major pathway that connects the brain to various organs, including the heart, lungs, and digestive tract. As a key part of the parasympathetic nervous system, the vagus nerve helps regulate essential involuntary functions like heart rate, breathing, and digestion. By controlling these processes, the vagus nerve contributes to the body's "rest and digest" response, helping to calm the body after stress, lower heart rate, improve digestion, and maintain homeostasis. The vagus nerve consists of two branches: the right and left vagus nerves. In the neck, the right vagus nerve contains approximately 105,000 fibers, while the left vagus nerve has about 87,000 fibers, according to one source. However, other sources report sl ...
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Occipital Artery
The occipital artery is a branch of the external carotid artery that provides arterial supply to the back of the scalp, sternocleidomastoid muscles, and deep muscles of the back and neck. Structure Origin The occipital artery arises from (the posterior aspect of) the external carotid artery (some 2 cm distal to the origin of the external carotid artery). Course and relations At its origin, the hypoglossal nerve (CN XII) crosses artery superficially as the nerve passes posteroanteriorly. The artery passes superoposteriorly deep to the posterior belly of the digastricus muscle. It crosses the internal carotid artery and vein, the vagus nerve (CN X), accessory nerve (CN XI), and hypoglossal nerve (CN XII). It next ascends to the interval between the transverse process of the atlas and the mastoid process of the temporal bone, and passes horizontally backward, grooving the surface of the latter bone, being covered by the sternocleidomastoideus, splenius capitis, longi ...
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Cervical Plexus
The cervical plexus is a nerve plexus of the anterior rami of the first (i.e. upper-most) four cervical spinal nerves C1-C4. The cervical plexus provides motor innervation to some muscles of the neck, and the diaphragm; it provides sensory innervation to parts of the head, neck, and chest. Anatomy They are located laterally to the transverse processes between prevertebral muscles from the medial side and vertebral (m. scalenus, m. levator scapulae, m. splenius cervicis) from lateral side. There is anastomosis with accessory nerve, hypoglossal nerve and sympathetic trunk. It is located in the neck, deep to the sternocleidomastoid muscle. The branches of the cervical plexus emerge from the posterior triangle at the nerve point, a point which lies midway on the posterior border of the sternocleidomastoid. Relations The cervical plexus is situated deep to the sternocleidomastoid muscle, internal jugular vein, and deep cervical fascia. It is situated anterior to the mid ...
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Ansa Cervicalis
The ansa cervicalis (or ansa hypoglossi in older literature) is a loop formed by muscular branches of the cervical plexus formed by branches of cervical spinal nerves C1-C3. The ansa cervicalis has two roots - a superior root (formed by branch of C1) and an inferior root (formed by union of branches of C2 and C3) - that unite distally, forming a loop. It is situated anterior to the carotid sheath. Branches of the ansa cervicalis innervate three of the four infrahyoid muscles: the sternothyroid, sternohyoid, and omohyoid muscles (note that the thyrohyoid muscle is the one infrahyoid muscle not innervated by the ansa cervicalis - it is instead innervated by cervical spinal nerve 1 via a separate thyrohyoid branch). Its name means "handle of the neck" in Latin. Anatomy The ansa cervicalis is typically embedded within the anterior wall of the carotid sheath anterior to the internal jugular vein. Superior root The superior root of the ansa cervicalis (formerly known as d ...
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Hypoglossal Nerve
The hypoglossal nerve, also known as the twelfth cranial nerve, cranial nerve XII, or simply CN XII, is a cranial nerve that innervates all the extrinsic and intrinsic muscles of the tongue except for the palatoglossus, which is innervated by the vagus nerve. CN XII is a nerve with a sole motor function. The nerve arises from the hypoglossal nucleus in the medulla as a number of small rootlets, pass through the hypoglossal canal and down through the neck, and eventually passes up again over the tongue muscles it supplies into the tongue. The nerve is involved in controlling tongue movements required for speech and swallowing, including sticking out the tongue and moving it from side to side. Damage to the nerve or the neural pathways which control it can affect the ability of the tongue to move and its appearance, with the most common sources of damage being injury from trauma or surgery, and motor neuron disease. The first recorded description of the nerve was by Her ...
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Carotid Sheath
The carotid sheath is a condensation of the deep cervical fascia enveloping multiple vital neurovascular structures of the neck, including the common and internal carotid arteries, the internal jugular vein, the vagus nerve (CN X), and ansa cervicalis. The carotid sheath helps protects the structures contained therein. Anatomy One carotid sheath is situated on each side of the neck, extending between the base of the skull superiorly and the thorax inferiorly. Superiorly, the carotid sheath encircles the margins of the carotid canal and jugular foramen. Inferiorly, it terminates at the arch of the aorta; it is continuous inferiorly with the axillary sheath at the venous angle. Its inferior end occurs at the level of the first rib and sternum inferiorly (varying between the levels of C7 and T4). Structure The carotid sheath is a fibrous connective tissue formation surrounding several important structures of the neck. It is thicker around the arteries than around the ...
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Occipital Vein
The occipital vein is a vein of the scalp. It originates from a plexus around the external occipital protuberance and superior nuchal line to the back part of the vertex of the skull. It usually drains into the internal jugular vein, but may also drain into the posterior auricular vein (which joins the external jugular vein). It drains part of the scalp. Structure The occipital vein is part of the scalp. It begins as a plexus at the posterior aspect of the scalp from the external occipital protuberance and superior nuchal line to the back part of the vertex of the skull. It pierces the cranial attachment of the trapezius and, dipping into the venous plexus of the suboccipital triangle, joins the deep cervical vein and the vertebral vein. Occasionally it follows the course of the occipital artery, and ends in the internal jugular vein. Alternatively, it joins the posterior auricular vein, and ends in the external jugular vein. The parietal emissary vein connects it with the ...
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Ascending Pharyngeal
The ascending pharyngeal artery is an artery of the neck that supplies the pharynx. Its named branches are the inferior tympanic artery, pharyngeal artery, and posterior meningeal artery. inferior tympanic artery, and the meningeal branches (including the posterior meningeal artery). Anatomy The ascending pharyngeal artery is a long and slender vessel. It is deeply seated in the neck, beneath the other branches of the external carotid and under the stylopharyngeus muscle. It lies just superior to the bifurcation of the common carotid arteries. Origin It is the smallest and first medial branch of proximal external carotid artery, arising from the medial surface of the artery. Typically the ascending thyroid artery arises from the external carotid before the ascending pharyngeal, but in variant anatomy the thyroid may arise earlier from the bifurcation or common carotid. Course and relations The artery ascends vertically in between the internal carotid artery and the pha ...
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Common Facial Vein
The facial vein usually unites with the anterior branch of the retromandibular vein to form the common facial vein, which crosses the external carotid artery and enters the internal jugular vein at a variable point below the hyoid bone. From near its termination a communicating branch often runs down the anterior border of the sternocleidomastoideus to join the lower part of the anterior jugular vein The anterior jugular vein is a vein in the neck. Structure The anterior jugular vein lies lateral to the cricothyroid membrane. It begins near the hyoid bone by the confluence of several superficial veins from the submandibular region. Its tr .... The common facial vein is not present in all individuals. References External links * () Veins of the head and neck Common vein {{Portal bar, Anatomy ...
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Lingual Veins
The lingual veins are veins of the tongue with two distinct courses: one group drains into the lingual vein, while another group drains either into the lingual artery, (common) facial vein, or internal jugular vein. Clinical significance The lingual veins are clinically significant due to their ability to rapidly absorb drugs. For this reason, nitroglycerin is administered sublingually to patients experiencing angina pectoris Angina, also known as angina pectoris, is chest pain or pressure, usually caused by insufficient blood flow to the heart muscle (myocardium). It is most commonly a symptom of coronary artery disease. Angina is typically the result of part .... See also * Deep lingual vein * Dorsal lingual veins External links Photo of model (frog) References * Moore NA and Roy W. Rapid Review: Gross Anatomy. Elsevier, 2010. Veins of the head and neck {{circulatory-stub ...
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