Neck Flashcards

Explore the neck's anatomical boundaries, cervical fascia, muscles, triangles, major vessels, nerves, lymphatics, and visceral structures.

Card 1 of 30Question

What are the principal anatomical boundaries of the neck?

The skull base and inferior border of the mandible superiorly, and the clavicles, manubrium, and first thoracic vertebra inferiorly.

In This Section

1. What are the principal anatomical boundaries of the neck?

The skull base and inferior border of the mandible superiorly, and the clavicles, manubrium, and first thoracic vertebra inferiorly.

2. Which vertebrae form the cervical portion of the vertebral column?

The seven cervical vertebrae, C1 to C7.

3. Which muscle divides the lateral neck into anterior and posterior cervical triangles?

The sternocleidomastoid muscle.

4. What are the boundaries of the anterior triangle of the neck?

The anterior border of sternocleidomastoid, the inferior border of the mandible, and the anterior midline of the neck.

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

The posterior border of sternocleidomastoid, anterior border of trapezius, and middle third of the clavicle.

6. What are the four subdivisions of the anterior cervical triangle?

The submental, submandibular, carotid, and muscular triangles.

7. Which muscle divides the posterior cervical triangle into occipital and omoclavicular triangles?

The inferior belly of the omohyoid muscle.

8. What are the three main layers of deep cervical fascia?

The investing, pretracheal, and prevertebral layers.

9. Which muscles are enclosed by the investing layer of deep cervical fascia?

The sternocleidomastoid and trapezius muscles.

10. Which structures are enclosed by the visceral portion of the pretracheal fascia?

The thyroid gland, trachea, and esophagus.

11. Which muscle groups are enclosed by the prevertebral fascia?

The prevertebral and scalene muscles associated with the cervical vertebral column.

12. What are the principal contents of the carotid sheath?

The common or internal carotid artery, internal jugular vein, and vagus nerve.

13. Which anatomical space lies between the buccopharyngeal fascia and alar fascia?

The retropharyngeal space.

14. Why is the danger space of the neck clinically important?

It can provide a pathway for deep neck infections to spread into the posterior mediastinum.

15. Which muscles make up the principal infrahyoid muscle group?

The sternohyoid, omohyoid, sternothyroid, and thyrohyoid muscles.

16. Which muscles form the principal suprahyoid muscle group?

The digastric, stylohyoid, mylohyoid, and geniohyoid muscles.

17. What is the primary action of the sternocleidomastoid during unilateral contraction?

Ipsilateral lateral flexion and contralateral rotation of the head and neck.

18. Which nerve supplies motor innervation to the sternocleidomastoid and trapezius muscles?

The spinal accessory nerve (cranial nerve XI).

19. Which spinal nerve roots form the cervical plexus?

The anterior rami of C1 to C4.

20. Which spinal nerve roots form the brachial plexus?

The anterior rami of C5 to T1.

21. Which cervical spinal nerve roots contribute to the phrenic nerve?

C3, C4, and C5, with C4 usually providing the largest contribution.

22. Which muscle does the phrenic nerve cross as it descends through the neck?

The anterior surface of the anterior scalene muscle.

23. At approximately which vertebral level does the common carotid artery bifurcate?

At C4, near the superior border of the thyroid cartilage, although the level varies.

24. Which branch of the common carotid artery normally has no branches in the neck?

The internal carotid artery.

25. Which vein drains most of the brain and deep structures of the head and neck?

The internal jugular vein.

26. Which vein crosses superficially over the sternocleidomastoid muscle?

The external jugular vein.

27. Where are the principal deep cervical lymph nodes located?

Along the internal jugular vein, deep to the sternocleidomastoid muscle.

28. At approximately which cervical vertebral level does the pharynx continue as the esophagus?

At C6, near the inferior border of the cricoid cartilage.

29. What is the relationship between the thyroid isthmus and the trachea?

The isthmus typically crosses anterior to the second through fourth tracheal rings.

30. Which nerve is particularly vulnerable near the posterior thyroid gland during thyroidectomy?

The recurrent laryngeal nerve, which usually ascends near the tracheoesophageal groove.