TRIANGLES OF

NECK

DR:MARIA HASEEN
DPT,MS-CPPT*
TRIANGLES OF THE NECK

 An anatomical division created by the muscles of the head and neck. It is used
clinically to locate structures that pass through the neck.
 There are many triangles in the neck containing arteries, veins, nerves, lymph vessels and
nodes, and other important structures. A better understanding of the anatomy of these
triangles of the neck could help to minimize surgical injuries and make surgical
dissections more efficient.
 All triangles are paired
TRIANGLES OF NECK

 Anterior triangle
 Posterior triangle
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 The sternocleidomastoid muscle divides the neck into the anterior and the posterior triangles.
Anterior Triangle
 Front of neck
 The anterior triangle is bounded above by
the body of the mandible, posteriorly by the
sternocleidomastoid muscle, and anteriorly
by the midline.
 It is further subdivided into the carotid
triangle, the digastric triangle, the
submental triangle, and the muscular
triangle.
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CONTENTS OF ANTERIOR TRIANGLE:

 The contents of the anterior triangle include muscles, nerves, arteries, veins and lymph nodes.
 The muscles in this part of the neck are divided as to where they lie in relation to the hyoid bone. The suprahyoid
muscles are located superiorly to the hyoid bone, and infrahyoids inferiorly.
 There are several important vascular structures within the anterior triangle.
 The common carotid artery bifurcates within the triangle into the external and internal carotid branches. The internal
jugular vein can also be found within this area – it is responsible for venous drainage of the head and neck.
 Numerous cranial nerves are located in the anterior triangle.
 Some pass straight through, and others give rise to branches which innervate some of the other structures within the
triangle. The cranial nerves in the anterior triangle are the facial [VII], glossopharyngeal [IX], vagus [X], accessory [XI]
, and hypoglossal [XII] nerves.

Presentation Title | Presented By: Name 12/11/2023

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Suprahyoid Muscles Infrahyoid Muscles

•Stylohyoid •Omohyoid
•Digastric •Sternohyoid
•Mylohyoid •Thyrohyoid
•Geniohyoid •Sternothyroid

Presentation Title | Presented By: Name 12/11/2023

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CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE:

 In the carotid triangle, many of the vessels and nerves are relatively superficial, and so can be accessed by surgery.
 The carotid arteries, internal jugular vein, vagus and hypoglossal nerves are frequent targets of this surgical
approach.
 The carotid triangle also contains the carotid sinus – a dilated portion of the common carotid and internal carotid
arteries.
 It contains specific sensory cells, called baroreceptors.
 The baroreceptors detect stretch as a measure of blood pressure.
 The glossopharyngeal nerve feeds this information to the brain, and this is used to regulate blood pressure.

Presentation Title | Presented By: Name 12/11/2023

Posterior Triangle
 The posterior triangle is bounded posteriorly by
the trapezius muscle, anteriorly by the
sternocleidomastoid muscle, and inferiorly
by the clavicle.

 The posterior triangle of the neck is further

subdivided by the inferior belly of the
omohyoid muscle into a large occipital
triangle above and a small supraclavicular
triangle below.
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CLINICAL IMPORTANCE:

 Damage results in an inability to shrug the shoulders or raise the arm above the head,
particularly due to compromised trapezius muscle innervation. The external jugular vein's
superficial location within the posterior triangle also makes it vulnerable to injury.

Presentation Title | Presented By: Name 12/11/2023

 Clinical Relevance: The External Jugular 15
Vein

 The external jugular vein has a relatively superficial course down the neck, leaving it vulnerable to damage.
 If it is severed, in an injury such as a knife slash, its lumen is held open – this is due to the thick layer
of investing fascia.
 Air will be drawn into the vein, producing cyanosis, and can stop blood flow through the right atrium. This is a
medical emergency, managed by the application of pressure to the wound – stopping the bleeding, and the entry of
air.

 Clinical Relevance: Cervical Plexus Nerve Block

 For anaesthesia of the neck area, a cervical plexus block can be used.
 Local anaesthetic is injected along the posterior border of sternocleidomastoid at the junction of its superior and
middle thirds. This junction is where the cutaneous branches of the cervical plexus emerge, known as the nerve
point of the neck.
Presentation Title | Presented By: Name 12/11/2023
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