prepared for dentistry students

1. POSTERIOR TRIANGLE OF NECK
BY
PROF. DR. ANSARI
CHAIRPERSON & PROF. ANATOMY
RAKCODS
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5. 1. Upper pointer: Parotid gland Lower pointer: Parotid-masseteric fascia
2. Cervical branch of facial nerve
3. Mandibular marginal branch of facial nerve
4. Anastomosis of cervical cutaneus nerve with facial nerve
5. Platysma (reflected anteriorly)
6. External jugular vein
7. Cutaneus colli nerve
8. Sternocleidomastoid muscle
9. Anterior supraclavicular nerves
10. Medial supraclavicular nerves
11. Upper pointer: Clavicle (acromial end) Lower pointer: Deltoid muscle
12. Great auricular nerve
13. Prevertebral fascia
14. Minor occipital nerve
15. Borders of posterior cervical triangle
16. Accessory nerve (XI)
17. Trapezius muscle
18. Posterior supraclavicular nerves
19. Superficial cervical lymph glands
20. Superficial lymphatic vessel passing through cervical fascia
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6. THE EXTERNAL JUGULAR VEIN
• This vein is formed near the angle of the mandible by the
union of the posterior branch of retro mandibular and
posterior auricular veins .
• It crosses sternocleidomastoid muscle, runs over the roof of
the triangle and joins the subclavian veins
• The vein drains most of the scalp and face on the same
side.
• This vein dilates and becomes visible in fluid overload, in
heart failure in SVC obstruction, prolonged raised
intrathoracic pressure, etc..
• The walls of the vein are attached to the deep fascia. If the
vein is lacerated, the fascia pulls the vein open and
bleeding is severe. Also, air embolism could follow.
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7. ARTERIES IN THE POST. TRIANGLE
• The subclavian artery (1)
• Transverse cervical artery
from the thyrocervical trunk
to supply muscles in the
scapular region.
• Suprascapular artery (6)
from the thyrocervical
trunk.
• Occipital artery, from the
external carotid artery.
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8. NERVES IN THE TRIANGLE
• Spinal accessory nerve to the
sternocleidomastoid muscle
and the trapezius muscle.
• Cervical plexus and its
cutaneous branches from up
downwards.
• Lesser occipital nerve (c2)
• Great auricular nerve (c2 c3)
• Transverse cervical nerve (c2
c3)
• Suprascapular nerves (c3c4)
• Supraclavicular part of the
brachial plexus
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9. FLOOR OF TRIANGLE
1=SCALENUS ANT.
2=SCALENEUS MEDIUS
3=SCALENEUS POST.
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10. LYMPHATICS OF POST. TRIANGLE
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12. REFERENCES
• http://www.nursing-
lectures.com/2012/05/nursing-assessment-of-
head-and-neck.html
• http://meded.ucsd.edu/clinicalmed/head.htm
• http://www.instantanatomy.net/diagrams/HN
034.png
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13. Sample MCQS
• Which of the following muscles lies in the
floor of posterior triangle of neck?
• A. Scaleneus anterior
• B. Scaleneus medius
• C. Sternomastoid
• D. Trapezius
• E. Sternohyoid
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