Anatomy of the Carotid Triangle

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Questions and Answers

What is the posterior boundary of the Carotid triangle?

The superior belly of the omohyoid muscle

The middle constrictor muscle

The anterior border of the sternomastoid muscle (correct)

The posterior belly of the digastric muscle

Which of the following nerves is NOT found in the Carotid triangle?

Hypoglossal nerve

Vagus nerve

Trigeminal nerve (correct)

Accessory nerve

What is the floor of the Submental triangle formed by?

Thyrohyoid and hyoglossus muscles (correct)

Hyoid bone and geniohyoid muscle

Digastric muscle and stylohyoid muscle

Mylohyoid

Which of the following is NOT a content of the Muscular triangle?

Submandibular gland Signup and view all the answers

What is the anterior boundary of the Muscular triangle?

Midline of the neck Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following arteries is NOT found in the Carotid triangle?

Vertebral artery Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the cervical branch of the facial nerve in the superficial fascia?

Supplies the platysma muscle Signup and view all the answers

Which triangle is bounded by the anterior median line of the neck and the anterior border of the sternomastoid muscle?

Submental triangle Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the prevertebral fascia in the deep cervical fascia?

Surrounds the vertebral column Signup and view all the answers

Which triangle is bounded by the posterior border of the sternomastoid muscle, the anterior border of the trapezius muscle, and the clavicle?

Muscular triangle Signup and view all the answers

What is the main component of the carotid triangle?

Common carotid artery Signup and view all the answers

Which fascia layer splits to enclose the sternomastoid and trapezius muscles?

Investing fascia Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the submandibular triangle?

Contains the submandibular salivary gland Signup and view all the answers

Which triangle is bounded by the anterior border of the sternomastoid muscle, the posterior border of the dignastric muscle, and the hyoid bone?

Submandibular triangle Signup and view all the answers

What forms the posterior boundary of the anterior triangle of the neck?

The anterior border of the sternomastoid muscle Signup and view all the answers

What is the roof of the anterior triangle of the neck composed of?

The skin, superficial fascia, and deep cervical fascia Signup and view all the answers

How many triangles is the anterior triangle of the neck subdivided into?

4 Signup and view all the answers

What is the apex of the submental triangle bounded by?

The symphysis menti Signup and view all the answers

What is the floor of the submandibular triangle composed of?

The mylohyoid, hyoglossus, and middle constrictor muscles Signup and view all the answers

What is the contents of the submental triangle?

Submental artery, vein, anterior jugular vein, mylohyoid nerve, and submental lymph nodes Signup and view all the answers

What is the boundary of the carotid triangle?

The anterior border of the sternomastoid muscle Signup and view all the answers

What muscle forms the floor of the anterior triangle of the neck?

The mylohyoid muscle Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Anatomy of the Neck

The neck is divided into two triangles: anterior triangle and posterior triangle.
The anterior triangle is bounded by the midline of the neck, the anterior border of the sternomastoid muscle, and the lower border of the mandible.

Layers of the Neck

The neck has five layers:
- Skin
- Superficial fascia
- Deep cervical fascia
- Muscle layers
- Viscera or tubes

Superficial Fascia

Contains the platysma muscle
Contains the cervical branch of the facial nerve
Contains the external jugular vein
Contains the anterior jugular veins
Contains cutaneous branches of the cervical plexus

Deep Cervical Fascia

Has four layers:
- Investing fascia (superficial layer)
- Pretracheal fascia (middle layer)
- Prevertebral fascia (deep layer)
- Carotid sheath

Investing Fascia

Encircles the neck completely
Splits to enclose the sternomastoid and trapezius muscles
Above the hyoid bone, it splits to enclose the submandibular salivary gland
Below the hyoid bone, it covers the infrahyoid muscles and then splits to enclose the suprasternal space

Triangles of the Neck

The anterior triangle is subdivided into four smaller triangles:
- Submental triangle
- Submandibular (digastric) triangle
- Carotid triangle
- Muscular triangle

Submental Triangle

Boundaries:
- Apex: symphysis menti
- Base: the body of the hyoid bone
- Each side: the anterior belly of the digastric muscle
- Floor: the mylohyoid muscle
Contents:
- Submental artery
- Submental vein and the beginning of the anterior jugular vein
- Mylohyoid nerve
- Submental lymph nodes

Submandibular (Digastric) Triangle

Boundaries:
- Above: the lower border of the mandible
- Anteriorly: the anterior belly of the digastric muscle
- Posteriorly: the posterior belly of the digastric muscle
- Floor: the mylohyoid, the hyoglossus, and the middle constrictor
Contents:
- Facial artery
- Anterior facial vein

Carotid Triangle

Boundaries:
- In front and above: the posterior belly of the digastric muscle
- In front and below: the superior belly of the omohyoid
- Behind: the anterior border of the sternomastoid muscle
- Floor: thyrohyoid and hyoglossus (anteriorly), and the middle and inferior constrictors (posteriorly)
Contents:
- Common carotid artery
- Internal carotid artery
- External carotid artery and its five branches
- Internal jugular vein
- Common facial vein
- Last four cranial nerves (9, 10, 11, 12)
- Ansa cervicalis
- Deep cervical lymph nodes along the internal jugular vein

Muscular Triangle

Boundaries:
- In front: the midline of the neck (from the hyoid bone to the sternum)
- Behind and above: the superior belly of the omohyoid
- Behind and below: the sternomastoid muscle
Contents:
- Infrahyoid muscles
- Cricothyroid muscle (tensor of the vocal cords)
- Thyroid gland