Anterior Cervical Triangle and TMJ

base of anterior cervical triangle

inferior border of mandible

right/left boundaries of anterior cervical triangle

medial border of the SCM

floor of anterior cervical triangle

cervicle vertebrae

carotid sheath

deep fascia that covers the common carotid artery, vagus nerve, and internal jugular vein

pretracheal visceral layer

surrounds thyroid gland, larynx, trachea, pharynx, and esophagus

nasopharynx

oropharynx

laryngopharynx

epiglottis

hyoid bone

larynx

cricoid cartilage

level of hyoid bone

C3

level of thyroid cartilage

upper border of C4

level of cricoid cartilage

C6

phrenic nerve

hypoglossal nerve (CN XII)

internal jugular vein

right common carotid artery

Vagus Nerve (CN X)

carries parasympathetic information

external carotid artery

supplies neck/face

internal carotid artery

supplies cranial cavity

vertebral artery

branches off of subclavian artery that travel through transverse foramen of cervical vertebrae

articular tubercle

mandibular fossa

mandibular head

coronoid process

mandibular foramen

ramus of mandible

mental foramen

lateral ligament of the TMJ

articular disc of TMJ

made of fibrocartilage, attaches into joint capsule, separates TMJ into upper and lower joint parts

retrodiscal tissue

made of collagen/elastin fibers, fat, blood vessels, and sensory nerves

sphenomandibular ligament

stylomandibular ligament

lingual nerve

brings sensory information from the anterior 2/3 of the tongue

inferior alveolar nerve

travels through mandibular foramen to bring sensory information from the teeth

mental nerve

part of the inferior alveolar nerve that exits the mental foramen to bring sensory information from the chin