BY

DR. A.U. AGU

 Introduction
 Anterior triangle
 Suprahyoid
 Digastric & Submental
 Infrahyoid
 Muscular & carotid
 Posterior
 Occipital & supraclavicular
 Anterolaterally the neck appears as a somewhat
quadrilateral area
 Limited superiorly by the base of the mandible & a line
continued from the angle of the mandible to the mastoid
process
 Inferiorly by the upper border of the clavicle
 Anteriorly by the anterior midline
 Posteriorly by the anterior margin of trapezium
 This quadrilateral can be divided into ant & posterior
triangles by sternocleidomastoid.

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 To assist the description of the topographical anatomy of the
neck.
 Location of pathological lesions.
 Bounded anteriorly by the midline of the neck
 Posteriorly by the anterior margin of the
sternocleidomastiod
 Its base is the inferior border of the mandible & its
projection to the mastiod process
 Its apex is at manubrium sterni

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It can be divided into:
 Suprahyoid & infrahyoid
areas
 Suprahyoid is classified
into:
 Digastric or
submandibular
 Submental
 Infrahyoid
 Muscular
 carotid
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 Bounded superiorly - by the base of the mandible
 Posterioinferiorly - posterior belly of digastric &
stylohyiod muscles.
 Anterioinferiorly – ant belly of digastric.
 Covered by - skin, superficial platysma & deep fascia.
 Floor – formed by mylohyiod & hypoglossus & constrictor
pharyngitis superior

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 Itis divided into ant & post parts by
stylomandibular ligament
 Contents – ant part-submaxillary glands and
lymph nodes; facial, submental and mylohyoid
vessels; hypoglossal and mylohoid nerves.
 Post part- ECA, Parotid gland on the posterior
part
 Bounded inferiorly, by hyoid bone
 posteriorly, by anterior belly of
digastric muscle
 anteriorly, crosses the midline of
the neck
 Apex – the chin
 Floor - mylohyoid
 Contents – anterior jugular vein
and lymph node

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 Bounded superiorly, by
hyoid bone
 posterosuperiorly - by
superior belly of omohyoid
 Inferoposterorly - anterior
border of
sternocleidoastoid muscle
 Anteriorly - midline of the
neck.
 Contents – omohyoid,
sternohyoid, sternothyoid
& thyrohyoid, lymph
nodes.

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 Lower part of CCA, Vagus n & internal jugular
v
 At the medial side are esophagus, trachea &
thyroid gland
 Bounded anteroinferioly, by superior belly of omohyoid
 Superiorly-styloid and posterior belly of digastric mzs
 Posterioly-anterior border of sternocleidomastiod mz
 Floor – part of thyrohyoid, hypoglossus & pharyngeal constrictor mzs
 Covered – skin, superficial & deep fascia, platysma.
 Contents – upper part of C.C.A, & its division into ICA & ECA,
branches of E.C.A; posterior, facial and superior thyroid veins;
hypoglossal, internal and external laryngeal nerves; superior root of
ansa cervicalis; lymph nodes.

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 Are grouped according to their
location in relation to the hyoid
bone.
 Suprahyoid muscles.
 Stylohyoid, digastric, mylohyoid
and geniohyoid muscles
 Pass in superior direction from
hyoid bone to the skull or
mandible
 They are in the submental and
submandibular triangles.
 Raises the hyoid bone as occurs
during swallowing. 10
 Omohyoid, sternohyoid, thyrohyoid and sternothyroid
muscles.
 Are in the muscular triangle.
 Attach the hyoid bone to inferior structures
 Depress the hyoid bone and provide a stable point of
attachment for suprahyoid muscles
 Sometimes called strap muscles.

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 Common carotid arteries ( CCA)
 Are the beginning of carotid system
 The right CCA – arise from brachiocephalic trunk.
 The left CCA – arise directly from arch of the aorta.
 Both ascend within carotid sheath
 Near the superior edge of thyroid cartilage ( upper border
of C4 vert) each divide into internal and external carotid
arteries.

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 Are numerous cranial and peripheral nerves
 The cranial nerves in the group are
 Facial n
 Glossopharyngeal n
 Vagus n
 Accessory n
 Hypoglossal n
 The peripheral nerves in the group
 Transverse cervical nerve, from cervical plexus
 Upper and lower roots of ansa cervicalis.

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 Is on the lateral aspect of the neck
 Bounded anteriorly, by the posterior edge
of sternocleidomastoid muscle
 Posteriorly, by anterior edge of trapezius
 Base is formed by middle 1/3 of the
clavicle
 Apex is the occipital bone, where the
trapezius and sternocleidomastoid come
together
 Roof is the investing layer of cervical
fascia
 Floor is by; prevertebral fascia overlying
splenius capitis, levator scapular; posterior,
middle and anterior scalene muscles

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 Dividedby omohyoid mz
 OCCIPITAL TRIANGLE
 Upper & larger part
 Inferiorly – inferior belly of omohyoid
 Anteriorly – post margin of
sternocleido.
 Posteriorly – ant margin of trapezius
 Floor - splenius capitis, levator
scapular; 3 scalene muscles
 Covered by – skin, superficial & deep
fascia and below by platysma
 Contents – spinal accessary n,
cutaneus & muscular branches of
cervical plexus, lymph nodes
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 Lower & smaller division
 Superiorly – omohyoid
 Anteriorly - post margin of
sternocleido.
 Inferiorly – superior margin of clavicle
 Base- post border of sternocleido
 Floor – contains: 1st rib, scalenus
medius & 1st slip of serratus ant.
 Covered by - skin, superficial & deep
fascia and below by platysma
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 Content – 3rd portion of subclavian artery
 Sternocleidomastoid
 Trapezius
 splenius capitis
 Levator scapulae
 Posterior, middle and anterior scalene
 Omohyoid

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 Subclavian artery
 Has 3 parts with respect to anterior scalene
muscle
 Branches
 Vertebral a
 Thyrocervical trunk
 Internal thoraxic a
 Costocervical trunk

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A variety of nerves pass through or are within
the posterior triangle, these include;
 Accessory n
 Branches of cervical plexus
 Components forming the brachial plexus

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