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Neck

Components covered in this neck section:

  • Compartments

  • Fascia

  • Triangles

 

The structures named below will all be covered later on in other subsection of 'The Head & Neck' section.

Compartments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The neck has 4 compartments (in a horizontal section):

  • Vertebral compartment- cervical vertebrae, prevertebral & postvertebral muscles (covered in 'Muscles' subsection)

  • Vascular compartment- contains major blood vessels and vagus nerve (covered in 'Neurovasculature' section)

  • Visceral compartment- contains thyroid, parathyroid glands, pharynx, larynx, trachea & oseophagus

  • These are enclosed by an outer musculofascial collar

Fascia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fascia:

  • Superficial layer

  • Investing layer- encloses all other fascial compartments

  • Prevertebral layer- contains vertebral compartment & associated muscles

  • Pretracheal layer- contains visceral compartment

  • Carotid sheath layer

Triangles of the Neck

 

The neck has 2 main triangles:

  • Anterior triangle

    • Superiorly- mandible

    • Posteriorly- sternocleidomastoid

    • Inferiorly- midline of the neck

  • Posterior triangle

    • Anteriorly- sternocleidomastoid

    • Posteriorly- trapezius

    • Inferiorly- clavicle

 

 

 

 

 

 

The anterior triangle can be further divided into:

  • Submental triangle

  • Submandibular triangle

  • Carotid triangle

  • Muscular triangle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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