TRIANGLES OF THE NECK

• The side of the neck presents a somewhat

quadrilateral outline .
• It is limited above by the lower border of the
body of the mandible ,and an imaginary line
drawn from the angle of the mandible to the
mastoid process.
• Below ,it is limited by the upper border of
the clavicle.
• Medially ,by the midline of the neck.
• Posteriorly , by the anterior border of the
Trapezius muscle .
Quadrilateral outline in the neck
The Sternocleidomastoid muscle
• This quadrilateral space is divided by the
Sternocleidomastoid muscle into two
main triangles .
• The Sternocleidomastoid muscle passes
obliquely upwards and backwards from its
site of origin at the clavicle and sternum to its
point of insertion on the mastoid process and
the occipital bone .
• The triangle in front of this muscle is the
anterior triangle and the one behind it is
the posterior triangle .
Anterior and posterior triangles
Anterior Triangle
Posterior triangle
 Posterior triangle

• This is formed by :
• The Sternocleidomastoid musc.,anteriorly.
• The Trapezius muscle, posteriorly.
• The Clavicle ,inferiorly.
• The apex of the triangle is formed by the
occipital bone.
The ROOF of the posterior triangle is
formed by:

• Skin
• Superficial fascia
• Platysma muscle
• Investing layer of the deep cervical
fascia
The FLOOR of the triangle is formed by
the following muscles from above
downwards:
Splenius Capitis
Levator scapulae
Posterior scalene
Middle scalene
Anterior scalene
 Subdivisions of the posterior
triangle
• The posterior triangle
is further divided into
two smaller triangles
by the Inferior belly
of the Omohyoid
muscle .
• These are the :
Supraclavicular
triangle
Occipital
triangle
 Supraclavicular triangle
• It is formed by the

Inferior belly of the Omohyoid ,

the Clavicle ,
Sternocleidomastoid muscle.
 The Occipital triangle
• The Occipital triangle is formed by the

Inferior belly of the Omohyoid

The Trapezius muscle
Sternocleidomastoid muscle.
CONTENTS OF THE POSTERIOR
TRIANGLE

• NERVES and PLEXUSES:

• Spinal acessory nerve.
• Branches of Cervical plexus
• Roots and trunks of brachial plexus.
Contents of the posterior triangle
• VESSELS:
• Subclavian artery
• Transverse Cervical artery
• Suprascapular artery
• External jugular vein (terminal part)
 LYMPH NODES:
• Occipital
• Supraclavicular

MUSCLES:
• Inferior belly of Omohyoid muscle
 CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF
THE POSTERIOR
TRIANGLE
• The Accessory Nerve may be damaged
,while taking lymph node biopsy.

• The External Jugular Vein is present in a

superficial location here and this makes it
vulnerable to injury.
THE ANTERIOR
TRIANGLE
 ANTERIOR TRIANGLE
• BOUNDARIES:
Anterior border of the SCM muscle
midline of the neck
inferior border of the mandible
• ROOF:
• Skin
• Superfacial fascia and platysma
muscle
• Investing layer of deep cervical fascia
SUBDIVISIONS OF ANTERIOR
TRIANGLE
 SUBDIVISIONS OF THE
ANTERIOR
• The TRIANGLE
anterior triangle is divided into four
smaller triangles:
2. SUBMENTAL TRIANGLE
3. SUBMANDIBULAR TRIANGLE
4. CAROTID TRIANGLE
5. MUSCULAR TRIANGLE
 SUBMENTAL TRIANGLE
• Formed by the :
anterior midline of
neck
hyoid bone
anterior belly of
digastric muscle
SUBMANDIBULAR TRIANGLE
• Formed by:
Inferior border of
the mandible

Anterior belly of
the digastric muscle

Posterior belly of
the digastric muscle
 CAROTID TRIANGLE
• FORMED BY:
Superior belly of the
Omohyoid muscle

Sternocleidomastoid
muscle

Posterior belly of the

digastric muscle
 MUSCULAR TRIANGLE
• Formed by:
midline of the neck

superior belly of the

Omohyoid

sternocleidomastoid
muscle
Contents of the anterior triangle
 CONTENTS OF THE ANTERIOR
TRIANGLE
• VESSELS:
carotid system(CCA,ICA, ECA)
Internal Jugular vein

• NERVES:
Cranial nerves 7,9,10,11,12
Cervical plexus
• MUSCLES:
Suprahyoid muscles: (Digastric ,
Mylohyoid,Stylohyoid,Geniohyoid )These
elevate the hyoid bone , and the floor of the
mouth ,and depress the mandible .

Infrahyoid muscles :
(Sternohyoid,Sternothyroid,Thyrohyoid,
Omohyoid )
These depress the hyoid bone and the
larynx.
That’s it!