3.4 Describe the boundaries of the triangles of the neck and their respective contents.

Muscular Triangles of the Neck The sternocleidomastoid muscle divides the neck into the anterior and posterior triangles. A. Anterior Triangle of the Neck Boundaries: Anterior: Midline of the neck Posterior: Anterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle Superior: Lower border of the mandible Roof: Skin, superficial fascia, platysma Subdivisions: subdivided by two muscles 1. Digastric muscle 2. Superior belly of the omohyoid Into 4 triangles 1. Submandibular triangle (Digastric) 2. Carotid triangle 3. Submental triangle 4. Muscular triangle I. Submandibular triangle or Digastric Triangle Below the body of the mandible Boundaries: Anteroinferior: Anterior belly of the digastric muscle Posteroinferior: Posterior belly of the digastric muscle + stylohyoid muscle Superior: Lower border of the mandible Floor: Mylohoid and hyoglossus muscles Roof: investing layer of deep cervical fascia Contents: Facial Artery Hypoglossal Nerve (XII) Submandibular salivary gland Carotid Triangle or Superior Carotid Triangle Behind the Hyoid Muscle Boundaries: Inferomedial: Superior belly of the omohyoid muscle Inferolateral: Anterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle Superior: Posterior belly of the digastric muscle Floor: Middle pharyngeal constrictor muscle Inferior pharyngeal constrictor muscle Thyrohyoid muscle Contents: Carotid Sheath External Jugular Vein

II.

III.

Submental Triangle or Suprahyoid Triangle Below the chin Boundaries: Right and Left: Anterior bellies of the right and left digastric muscles Inferior: Body of the hyoid bone Floor: Mylohyoid muscle Roof: Investing layer of the deep cervical fascia Contents: Submental Lymph nodes Muscular Triangle or Inferior Carotid Triangle Below the Hyoid bone Boundaries: Medial: Median plane of the neck Superolateral: Superior belly of the omohyoid muscle Inferolateral: Anterior Border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle Contents: Anterior Jugular Vein Infrahyoid muscles Beneath the floor: thyroid gland, larynx, trachea, esophagus

IV.

B. Posterior Triangle of the Neck Boundaries: Anterior: Posterior border of the sternocleidomastoid Posterior: Anterior border of the trapezius muscle Inferior: Middle 1/3 of the clavicle Roof: investing layer of the deep cervical fascia Floor: muscles of the neck covered by pervertebral fascia Subdivisions: subdivided by the inferior belly of the omohyoid muscle 1. Occipital triangle (above) 2. Supraclavicular triangle (below) I. Occipital Triangle Larger division of the posterior triangle Boundaries: Anterior: Sternocleidomastoid muscle Posterior: Trapezius Inferior: Inferior belly of the omohyoid muscle Supraclavicular Triangle Also called subclavian triangle Smaller division of the posterior triangle Formed by the first rib with the first digitations of the serratus anterior Boundaries:

II.

Inferior: Clavicle Superior: Inferior belly of the omohyoid muscle Base: Posterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle