The Muscles and

Triangles of the Neck

 Regions of the Neck
 To facilitate the seemingly complicated area, the
neck is divided into two major areas, or
triangles, by the sternocleidomastoid
muscle. These are:
1. anterior triangle
- the area anterior to the SCM and below
the inferior border of the mandible.
2. posterior triangle
- the area posterior to the SCM and is
limited posteriorly by the trapezius muscle.
 Sternocleidomastoid Muscle
Muscle Origin Insertion Action Nerve
Supply
Sternocleido Two heads: Mastoid Bilateral: 1. Spinal
mastoid Sternal head process of Flex the accesory
muscle –manubrium the of the neck nerve
sterni temporal 2. Anterior
bone and primary rami
lateral half Single:
Clavicular of spinal
of the Flex the nerves C2
head superior head and and C3.
- Medial 2/3 nuchal line. laterally
of the rotate to the
clavicle opposite
side
 Trapezius Muscle
Muscle Origin Insertion Action Nerve
Supply
Trapezius External Fibers Contract to 1. Spinal
muscle occipital originating rotate and accessory
protruberance from the head elevate the nerve
, the medial insert into the scapule. Its
half of the lateral third of cervical 2. Anterior
superior the clavicle, portion, acting primary rami
nuchal line, and the bilaterally, can of the spinal
the remaining extend the nerves C3 and
ligamentum fibers insert head and C4.
nuchae, and into the singly, it can
the lower acromion rotate the
cervical and process and head and face
all the spine of the to the
thoracic scapula opposite side
spines
The Anterior Triangle
of the Neck
Boundaries of the Anterior Triangle
 Anterior
- median line of the neck

 Posterior
– anterior border of the
sternocleidomastoid
muscle

 Superior
- inferior border of the
mandible

 Roof
- skin, superficial fascia,
platysma, and investing
layer of deep cervical
fascia
 Muscles of the
Anterior Triangle of the Neck
 I. Infrahyoid Muscles
Muscle Origin Insertion Action Nerve
Supply
Omohyoid Inferior belly: Inferior belly: Depresses the Ansa cervicalis
Superior Intermediate hyoid bone (APR of C1,
border of the tendon and larynx C2, C3)
scapula Superior belly:
Superior belly: Lower border
Intermediate of the body of
tendon the hyoid
bone

Sternohyoid Manubrium of Lower border Depresses the Ansa cervicalis

the sternum, of the body of hyoid bone (APR of C1,
posterior the hyoid and larynx C2, C3)
aspect bone
 Infrahyoid Muscles
Muscle Origin Insertion Action Nerve
Supply
Sternothyroid Manubrium of Oblique line of Depresses the Ansa cervicalis
the sternum, thyroid larynx (APR of C1,
posterior cartilage C2, C3)
aspect

Thyrohyoid Oblique line of Body and Depresses the Thyrohyoid

thyroid greater horn hyoid bone branch of the
cartilage of hyoid bone, hypoglossal
lower border nerve
 II. Suprahyoid Muscles
Muscle Origin Insertion Action Nerve
Supply

Stylohyoid Styloid Greater horn Elevates Facial nerve

process of hyoid hyoid bone
bone

Digastric Digastric Intermediate Raises the Facial nerve

(Posterior notch of the tendon hyoid bone
belly) temporal bone
at the base of
the skull
Digastric Intermediate Digastric fossa Elevates the Nerve to the
(anterior tendon of the hyoid bone mylohyoid
belly) mandible muscle
 Suprahyoid Muscles
Muscle Origin Insertion Action Nerve
Supply

Mylohyoid Mylohyoid line Median raphe Elevates the Nerve to

on the medial and body of hyoid bone, mylohyoid
aspect of hyoid base of the muscle
mandibular tongue, and
body floor of the
mouth

Geniohyoid Inferior Body of hyoid Elevates hyoid APR of C1

muscle border genial bone bone,
tubercle of protracts
the mandible hyoid bone
Boundaries of the Anterior Triangle
 Anterior
- median line of the neck

 Posterior
– anterior border of the
sternocleidomastoid
muscle

 Superior
- inferior border of the
mandible

 Roof
- skin, superficial fascia,
platysma, and investing
layer of deep cervical
fascia
 Subdivisions of the
Anterior Triangle
1. Digastric
Triangle
2. Carotid
triangle
3. Muscular or
inferior
carotid
triangle
4. Submental
triangle
 1. Digastric Triangle
 Boundaries:
1. Superior-
lower border of the mandible

2. Anterior –
anterior belly of the digastric

3. Posterior –
posterior belly of the digastric

4. Floor -
mylohoid and hyoglossus muscles
and superior contrictor muscle of the
pharynx
 1. Digastric Triangle
 Structures:
1. Glands
– parotid and
submandibular

2. Arteries
- Internal and external
carotid, facial, submental,
posterior auricular,
superficial temporal and
lingual.

3. Veins
- anterior facial and
internal jugular.

4. Nerves – vagus,
glossopharyngeal, facial,
and hypoglossal.
 2. Carotid Triangle
 Boundaries:
1. Superior
– posterior belly of the
digastric

2. Inferior
– superior belly of
omohyoid

3. Posterior
– anterior border of the
SCM

4. Floor
- thyrohyoid muscle,
hyoglossus muscle, and the
middle and inferior
constrictor muscles of the
pharynx.
 2. Carotid Triangle
 Structures:
1. Organs
– larynx and pharynx (lower
part)
2. Arteries
- CCA, facial, occipital,
acending pharyngeal,
superior thyroid, and lingual.
3. Veins
- internal jugular, superior
thyroid, lingual, facial,
occipital and ascending
pharyngeal.
4. Nerves
- vagus, accessory,
hypoglossal, ansa hypoglossi,
external and internal
laryngeal.
 3. Muscular or Inferior
Carotid Triangle
 Boundaries:
1. Supero-posterior
- superior belly of
omohyoid
2. infero-posterior
- anterior border of
SCM
3. Anterior
- median line of the
neck
4. Floor
- sternohyoid and
sternothyroid
 3. Muscular or Inferior
Carotid Triangle
 Structures:
1. Organs
– thyroid and
parathyroid glands,
trachea
2. Arteries
- inferior thyroid
3. Veins
- internal jugular
4. Nerves
- vagus, recurrent
laryngeal,
sympathetic n.
 4. Submental Triangle
 Boundaries:
1. Lateral
- two anterior bellies
of the digastric
2. Posterior
- body of the hyoid
bone

■ Structures:
1. Submental lymph
glands
2. Beginning of the
anterior jugular vein
The Posterior Triangle
of the Neck
 The Posterior Triangle of the Neck
 Boundaries:

1. Anterior
- posterior border of the SCM.

2. Posterior
- anterior border of the trapezius
muscle.

3. Inferior
- superior border of the
intermediate 1/3 of trhe clavicle.

4. Superior
- meeting of the trapezius and
SCM at the superior nuchal line.

5. Roof
- formed by the skin, superficial
fascia, platysma and investing layer
of the deep cervical fascia.

6. Floor
- formed by several muscles –
semispinalis capitis, aplenius
capitis, levator scapulae, and
scalenius medius
 Muscles of the
Posterior Triangle of the Neck
 Muscle Origin Insertion Action Nerve
Platysma Superficial Inferior Stretches Facial nerve
fascia of the border of tight the
deltoid and the skin of the
pectoral mandible, neck,
regions some fibers depresses
sweep the mandible
upward and
blend with
risorius
Splenius Lower part Mastoid Bilateral: Cervical
capitis of the process and Extends the spinal
ligamentum the superior head nerves
nuchae, nuchal line Individual:
lower
cervical Flexes the
spines head
laterally
 Muscle Origin Insertion Action Nerve
Levator Transverse Superior Elevates and Dorsal
scapulae processes of portion of rotates the scapular
C1 to C4 the vertebral scapula nerves
border of
the scapula
Scalenius Transverse Superior Flexes the APR of C5 to
posterior processes of aspect of the neck C8
C5 and C6 second rib
Scalenius Transverse Superior Flexes the APR of C3
Medius processes of aspect of the neck and C4
C2 to C7 first rib
Scalenius Transverse Scalene Participates APR of C5 to
anterior processes of tubercle of in forced C8
C3 to C6 the first rib inspiration
by elevating
the ribs and
sternum
 Subdivisions of the
Posterior Triangle
1. Occipital Triangle
2. Supraclavicular Triangle
 1. Occipital Triangle
 Boundaries:

1. Anterior
- posterior border of
SCM

2. Posterior
- anterior border of the
Trapezius M.

3. Superior
- meeting between the
trapezius and SCM

4. Inferior
- superior border of the
inferior belly of
omohyoid
2. Supraclavicular or Subcalvian or
Omoclavicular Triangle
 Boundaries:

1. Anterior
- posterior border of
SCM

2. Superior
- inferior border of the
inferior belly of
omohyoid

3. Inferior
- superior border of
the intermediate 1/3 of
the clavicle
 Contents of the Posterior Triangle
1. Arteries
- subclavian artery, transverse cervical artery, occipital artery and
suprascapular artery.

2. Veins
- external jugular vein, anterior jugular vein, transverse cervical vein,
suprascapular and subclavian veins.

3. Nerves
- spinal accessory nerve, cutaneous and muscular branches of the
cervical plexus, ansa cervicalis and root, trunk and divisions of the
brachial plelxus.

4. Lymph glands
- supraclavicular lymph glands, and the lateral superior deep cervical
lymph glands.