Neck
Neck Compartment Cervical Spinal Nerves (C1-C8)
• Posterior branches → extensor muscles of
Vertebral Compartment vertebral column and (except for C1) skin of
• 7 cervical vertebrae posterior scalp / neck
o Axis (C1) & Atlas (C2) have • Anterior branches → cervical + brachial
unusual shapes and no vertebral plexuses
discs
o Transverse Foramen: allow
passage of vertebral arteries Cervical Plexus (C1-C4)
• Trapezius, sternocleidomastoid (SCM) • Deep group → muscles
• Superficial group → cutaneous region of neck
• Forms phrenic nerve
Vascular Compartment
• Tubes of fascia
• Contains common carotid artery, Brachial Plexus (C5-T1)
internal jugular vein & vagus nerve • Projects towards armpit → upper limb
Visceral Compartment Ansa Cervicalis (C1-C3)
• Passageways of pharynx & larynx • Supplies omohyoid, sternothyroid &
sternohyoid
Anterior Triangle
• Borders: superior = (inferior) mandible, lateral = SCM (anterior), medial = neck (midline)
• Contents: muscles associated with hyoid bone, carotid arteries, internal jugular vein, vagus nerve,
elements of respiratory / GI system, thyroid / parathyroid glands
Posterior Triangle
• Borders: anterior = SCM (posterior), posterior = trapezius (anterior), inferior = clavicle (middle 1/3)
• Contents: accessory nerve, superficial branches of cervical plexus, external jugular vein
Neck Musculature
Muscle Origin/Insertion Function Arterial Supply Nerve Supply
Unilateral and bilateral
Sternum & clavicles →
SCM contraction (skull rotates Accessory nerve
temporal bone
or is held straight)
Infra- and supraclavicular
Depresses mandible, Facial artery &
region → mandible, skin of Cervical branch
Platysma tenses skin of lower face thyrocervical
buccal region, lower lip, of CN VII
& anterior neck trunk
orbicularis oris muscle
Occipital protuberance & Moves scapula when spine
Transverse
Trapezius cervical vertebrae → if fixed, or vice-versa Accessory nerve
cervical artery
clavicle & scapula
, Pharynx
Pharynx
• Upper portion of alimentary canal,
continuous with oesophagus
• Extends from cranial base to lower
border of cricoid cartilage, where it
becomes continuous with oesophagus
Oropharynx
• Area inferior to soft palate
• Communicates anteriorly with oral cavity
• Anterior border = palatoglossal /
palatopharyngeal arches, with palatine
tonsils in between
Walls Nasopharynx
1. Mucosa
• Area above soft palate / behind nares
2. Submucosa (fibrous coat anchors
• Floor = soft palate
pharynx to skull base)
3. Muscular (3 outer constrictor • Posterior wall = (mostly) superior constrictor
muscles + 2 inner longitudinal muscles
muscles) • Lateral wall = lymphoid tissue & opening of
4. Buccopharyngeal fascia (covers pharyngotympanic tube
exterior layer) • Roof = lymphoid tissue, adenoid, pharyngeal tonsil
Musculature
• Constrictor Muscles: sequential contraction during swallowing (peristaltic waves)
o Superior: mandible / pterygoid plate → pharyngeal tubercle (occipital)
o Middle: stylohyoid ligament / hyoid horns → pharyngeal arches
o Inferior: thyroid / cricoid → pharynx-oesophagus junction
• Longitudinal Muscles: raise pharynx and larynx during swallowing
o Palatopharyngeus: palatal aponeurosis → pharynx / hyoid bone / thyroid cartilage
o Stylopharyngeus → styloid process → palatopharyngeus (mingling of fibres)
Sensory Innervation Vasculature
• CN V2 → soft palate / roof • Arterial: ascending pharyngeal, superior /
• CN X → pharyngeal inlet surroundings inferior thyroid, facial & maxillary arteries
• CN IX → remainder • Venous: plexus on pharynx → pterygoid plexus
Motor Innervation Lymphatic Drainage
• CN IX → stylopharyngeus • Mainly into deep cervical nodes
• CN X → palatopharyngeus & constrictor muscles • Also via retropharyngeal nodes
Neck Compartment Cervical Spinal Nerves (C1-C8)
• Posterior branches → extensor muscles of
Vertebral Compartment vertebral column and (except for C1) skin of
• 7 cervical vertebrae posterior scalp / neck
o Axis (C1) & Atlas (C2) have • Anterior branches → cervical + brachial
unusual shapes and no vertebral plexuses
discs
o Transverse Foramen: allow
passage of vertebral arteries Cervical Plexus (C1-C4)
• Trapezius, sternocleidomastoid (SCM) • Deep group → muscles
• Superficial group → cutaneous region of neck
• Forms phrenic nerve
Vascular Compartment
• Tubes of fascia
• Contains common carotid artery, Brachial Plexus (C5-T1)
internal jugular vein & vagus nerve • Projects towards armpit → upper limb
Visceral Compartment Ansa Cervicalis (C1-C3)
• Passageways of pharynx & larynx • Supplies omohyoid, sternothyroid &
sternohyoid
Anterior Triangle
• Borders: superior = (inferior) mandible, lateral = SCM (anterior), medial = neck (midline)
• Contents: muscles associated with hyoid bone, carotid arteries, internal jugular vein, vagus nerve,
elements of respiratory / GI system, thyroid / parathyroid glands
Posterior Triangle
• Borders: anterior = SCM (posterior), posterior = trapezius (anterior), inferior = clavicle (middle 1/3)
• Contents: accessory nerve, superficial branches of cervical plexus, external jugular vein
Neck Musculature
Muscle Origin/Insertion Function Arterial Supply Nerve Supply
Unilateral and bilateral
Sternum & clavicles →
SCM contraction (skull rotates Accessory nerve
temporal bone
or is held straight)
Infra- and supraclavicular
Depresses mandible, Facial artery &
region → mandible, skin of Cervical branch
Platysma tenses skin of lower face thyrocervical
buccal region, lower lip, of CN VII
& anterior neck trunk
orbicularis oris muscle
Occipital protuberance & Moves scapula when spine
Transverse
Trapezius cervical vertebrae → if fixed, or vice-versa Accessory nerve
cervical artery
clavicle & scapula
, Pharynx
Pharynx
• Upper portion of alimentary canal,
continuous with oesophagus
• Extends from cranial base to lower
border of cricoid cartilage, where it
becomes continuous with oesophagus
Oropharynx
• Area inferior to soft palate
• Communicates anteriorly with oral cavity
• Anterior border = palatoglossal /
palatopharyngeal arches, with palatine
tonsils in between
Walls Nasopharynx
1. Mucosa
• Area above soft palate / behind nares
2. Submucosa (fibrous coat anchors
• Floor = soft palate
pharynx to skull base)
3. Muscular (3 outer constrictor • Posterior wall = (mostly) superior constrictor
muscles + 2 inner longitudinal muscles
muscles) • Lateral wall = lymphoid tissue & opening of
4. Buccopharyngeal fascia (covers pharyngotympanic tube
exterior layer) • Roof = lymphoid tissue, adenoid, pharyngeal tonsil
Musculature
• Constrictor Muscles: sequential contraction during swallowing (peristaltic waves)
o Superior: mandible / pterygoid plate → pharyngeal tubercle (occipital)
o Middle: stylohyoid ligament / hyoid horns → pharyngeal arches
o Inferior: thyroid / cricoid → pharynx-oesophagus junction
• Longitudinal Muscles: raise pharynx and larynx during swallowing
o Palatopharyngeus: palatal aponeurosis → pharynx / hyoid bone / thyroid cartilage
o Stylopharyngeus → styloid process → palatopharyngeus (mingling of fibres)
Sensory Innervation Vasculature
• CN V2 → soft palate / roof • Arterial: ascending pharyngeal, superior /
• CN X → pharyngeal inlet surroundings inferior thyroid, facial & maxillary arteries
• CN IX → remainder • Venous: plexus on pharynx → pterygoid plexus
Motor Innervation Lymphatic Drainage
• CN IX → stylopharyngeus • Mainly into deep cervical nodes
• CN X → palatopharyngeus & constrictor muscles • Also via retropharyngeal nodes
