Download Skin of the Neck

Human Anatomy
The Neck
The neck is the region of the body that lies between the
lower margin of the mandible above and the
suprasternal notch and the upper border of the clavicle
below. It is strengthened by the cervical part of the
vertebral column, which is convex forward and
supports the skull. Behind the vertebrae is a mass of
extensor muscles and in front is a smaller group of
flexor muscles. In the central region of the neck are
parts of the respiratory system, namely, the larynx and
the trachea, and behind are parts of the alimentary
system, the pharynx and the esophagus. At the sides of
these structures are the vertically running carotid
arteries, internal jugular veins, the vagus nerve, and
the deep cervical lymph nodes
Skin of the Neck
The natural lines of cleavage of the skin are constant and
run almost horizontally around the neck. This is
important clinically because an incision along a
cleavage line will heal as a narrow scar, whereas one
that crosses the lines will heal as a wide or heaped-up
scar.
Cutaneous Nerves
The skin overlying the trapezius muscle on the back of
the neck and on the back of the scalp as high as the
vertex is supplied segmentally by posterior rami of
cervical nerves.
Superficial Fascia
The superficial fascia of the neck forms a thin layer that
encloses the platysma muscle. Also embedded in it are
the cutaneous nerves ,the superficial veins, and the
superficial lymph nodes.
Platysma
The platysma muscle is a thin muscular sheet embedded in
the superficial fascia of the neck.
 Origin: Deep fascia over pectoralis major and deltoid m.
 Insertion: Body of mandible and angle of mouth.
 Nerve supply: cervical branch of Facial nerve.
 Action: Depresses mandible and angle of mouth.
Platysma muscle
Sternocleidomastoid
muscle
Key Neck Muscles
Sternocleidomastoid Muscle:
When the sternocleidomastoid muscle contracts, it
appears as an oblique band crossing the side of the
neck from the sternoclavicular joint to the mastoid
process of the skull. It divides the neck into
anterior and posterior triangles.
The muscle is covered superficially by skin, fascia,
the platysma muscle, and the external jugular vein.
•Origin: Manubrium sterni and medial third
of clavicle
•Insertion: Mastoid process of temporal bone
and occipital bone
•Nerve supply: Spinal part of accessory nerve
•Action: Two muscles acting together extend
head and flex neck; one muscle rotates head to
opposite side.
Boundaries:
superiorly
inferiorly
anteriorly
inferiorly
posteriorly
anteriorly
Contents of the posterior triangle:
A) Nerves and Plexuses:
1. Cutaneous branches of the cervical plexus (supraclavicular
nerve, lesser occipital nerve, greater auricular nerve and transverse
cervical nerve) enter the posterior triangle by piercing the fascia
over its floor, and run for some distance between the floor and
roof, before piercing the latter to become subcutaneous.
2. Muscular branches arising from the cervical plexus for the
levator scapulae and trapezius run deep to the fascia of the floor.
3. The spinal accessory nerve (Cranial Nerve XI) runs downwards
and laterally across the triangle lying between the two layers of the
fascia forming the roof.
4. The trunks of the brachial plexus are seen in the lower part of
the triangle. A number of branches arising from the plexus are
related to the triangle.
5. Phrenic nerve (C3,4,5)
B) Vessels:
 Subclavian Artery (Third part)
 Transverse cervical artery
 Suprascapular Artery
 Terminal part of External jugular vein
C) Lymph Nodes:
 Occipital lymph node
 Supraclavicular lymph node