Triangles of the neck

Triangles of the neck

Anterior triangle
Borders of the anterior triangle:
Posteriorly: Anterior border of the sternocleidomastoid
Superiorly : Inferior border of the mandible
Anteriorly: Midline of the neck



Using the hyoid as a keystone, the omohyoid and digastric muscles subdivide the anterior triangle
into:
Submental triangle
• Submandibular triangle
• Carotid triangle
• Muscular triangle
All of the triangles within the anterior triangle are paired except for the submental triangle, which spans the right and the left sides of the neck

1. SUBMENTAL TMANGLE

Borders of the submental triangle:
• Inferiorly: Body of hyoid
• laterally: Anterior digastric on right and left
• anteriorly: midline of the neck
Floor of the triangle is composed of the:
• Mylohyoid
Roof is made of the:
•Skin
• Superficial fascia with platysma
• Deep cervical fascia

2. SUBMANDIBULAR TRIANGLE

Often called the digastric triangle
Borders of the submandibular triangle:
• Superiorly: Inferior border of the
mandible
•Posteriorly: Posterior belly of digastric
and stylohioyd muscle
• Anteriorly: Anterior belly of digastric

Floor of the triangle is composed of the:

• Hyoglossus
• Mylohyoid
• Middle constrictor
Roof is made of the:
•Skin
• Superficial fascia with platysma
• Deep cervical fascia

3. CAROTID TRIANGLE

Named because parts of all three carotid arteries are located within it
Borders of the carotid triangle:
• Posteriorly :Anterior border of the sternocleidomastoid
• Superiorly: Posterior belly of digastric
Inferiorly: Superior belly of omohyoid

Floor of the triangle is composed of the:

• Hyoglossus
• Thyrohyoid
• Middle constrictor
• Inferior constrictor
Roof is made of the:
• Skin
• Superficial fascia with platysma
• Deep cervical fascia

4. MUSCULAR TRIANGLE

Borders of the muscular triangle:
Inferiorly: Anterior border of the sternocleidomastoid
Superiorly: Superior belly of omohyoid
Anteriorly: Midline

Floor of the triangle is composed of the:

• Sternohyoid
• Sternothyroid
Roof is made of the:
•Skin
• Superficial fascia with platysma
• Deep cervical fascia

Posterior triangle

Borders of the posterior triangle:
Anteriorly: Posterior border of die sternocleidomastoid
Inferiorly: Middle third of the clavicle
Posteriorly: Anterior border of the trapezius
Is subdivided into 2 triangles by the omohyoid:
Omoclavicular (also called the supraclavicular triangle)
Occipital

Roof of the posterior triangle includes:

•Skin
• Superficial fascia with platysma
• Superficial (investing) layer of deep cervical fascia
Floor of the posterior triangle includes :
• Semispinalis capitis
• Splenius capitis
• Levator scapulae
• Posterior scalene
• Middle scalene
• Anterior scalene


Arteries of the Head and Neck
common Carotid Artery
The right common carotid artery arises from the brachiocephalic artery behind the right sternoclavicular joint. The left artery arises from the arch of the aorta in the superior mediastinum. The common carotid artery runs upward through the neck under cover of the anterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle, from the sternoclavicular joint to the upper border of the thyroid cartilage. Here, it divides into the external and internal carotid arteries

Carotid Sinus

At its point of division, the terminal part of the common carotid artery or the beginning of the internal carotid artery shows a localized dilatation, called the carotid sinus. The tunica media of the sinus is thinner than elsewhere, but the adventitia is relatively thick and contains numerous nerve endings derived from the glossopharyngeal nerve. The carotid sinus serves as a reflex Pressoreceptor mechanism: A rise in blood pressure causes a slowing of the heart rate and vasodilatation of the arterioles.

Carotid Body

The carotid body is a small structure that lies posterior to the point of bifurcation of the common carotid artery. It is innervated by the glossopharyngeal nerve. The carotid body is a chemoreceptor, being sensitive to excess carbon dioxide and reduced oxygen tension in the blood. Such a stimulus reflexly produces a rise in blood pressure and heart rate and an increase in respiratory movements. The common carotid artery is embedded in a connective tissue sheath, called the carotid sheath, throughout its course and is closely related to the internal jugular vein and vagus nerve

Relations of the Common Carotid Artery

• Anterolaterally: The skin, fascia, sternocleidomastoid, sternohyoid, the sternothyroid, and the superior belly of the omohyoid
• Posteriorly: The transverse processes of the lower four cervical vertebrae, the prevertebral muscles, and the sympathetic trunk. In the lower part of the neck are the vertebral vessels.
• Medially: The larynx and pharynx and, below these, the trachea and esophagus. The lobe of the thyroid gland also lies medially.
• Laterally: The internal jugular vein and, posterolaterally, the vagus nerve.
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Clinical significant:
Carotid Sinus Hypersensitivity
In case of carotid sinus hypersensitivity , pressure on one or both carotid sinuses can cause excessive slowing of the heart rate , a fall in blood pressure, and cerebral ischemia with fainting .

External Carotid Artery

The external carotid artery is one of the terminal branches of the common carotid artery. It supplies structures in the neck, face, and scalp; it also supplies the tongue and the maxilla. The artery begins at the level of the upper border of the thyroid cartilage and terminates in the substance of the parotid gland behind the neck of the mandible by dividing into the superficial temporal and maxillary arteries.

Close to its origin, the artery emerges from undercover of the sternocleidomastoid muscle, where its pulsations can be felt. At first, it lies medial to the internal carotid artery, but as it ascends in the neck, it passes backward and lateral to it. It is crossed by the posterior belly of the digastric and the stylohyoid.

Relations of the External Carotid Artery

• Auterolaterally: The artery is overlapped at its beginning by the anterior border of the sternocleidomastoid. Above this level, the artery is comparatively superficial, being covered by skin and fascia. It is crossed by the hypoglossal nerve, the posterior belly of the digastric muscle, and the stylohyoid muscles. Within the parotid gland, it is crossed by the facial nerve. The internal jugular vein first lies lateral to the artery and then posterior to it.





• Medially: The wall of the pharynx and the internal carotid artery. The stylopharyngeus muscle, the glossopharyngeal nerve, and the pharyngeal branch of the vagus pass between the external and internal carotid arteries.


Branches of the External Carotid Artery
1. Superior thyroid artery
2. Ascending pharyngeal artery
3. Lingual artery
4. Facial artery
5. Occipital artery
6. Posterior auricular artery
7. Superficial temporal artery
8. Maxillary artery

Superior thyroid artery

The superior thyroid artery curves downward to the upper pole of the thyroid gland. It is accompanied by the external laryngeal nerve, which supplies the cricothyroid muscle.






Ascending Pharyngeal Artery
The ascending pharyngeal artery ascends along and supplies the pharyngeal wall.

lingual artery

The lingual artery loops upward and forward and supplies the tongue

Facial Artery

The facial artery loops upward close to the outer surface of the pharynx and the tonsil. It lies deep to the submandibular salivary gland and emerges and bends around the lower border of the mandible. It then ascends over the face close to the anterior border of the masseter muscle. The artery then ascends around the lateral margin of the mouth and terminates at the medial angle of the eye. Branches of the facial artery supply the tonsil, the submandibular salivary gland, and the muscles and the skin of the face.

Occipital Artery

The artery supplies the back of the scalp
Posterior Auricular Artery
The posterior auricular artery supplies the auricle and the scalp.
Superficial Temporal Artery
The superficial temporal artery ascends over the Zygomatic arch, where it may be palpated just in front of the auricle. It is accompanied by the auriculotemporal nerve, and it supplies the scalp.


Maxillary Artery
The maxillary artery runs forward medial to the neck of the mandible and enters the pterygopalatine fossa of the skull.

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