Posterior Triangle of the Neck and Applied Anatomy

This flashcard set covers the anatomical contents, divisions, and clinical correlations of the posterior triangle of the neck based on the lecture notes.

Occipital nerve

A branch of the external carotid artery that arises posterior to the sternocleidomastoid and runs superiorly.

Spinal accessory nerve

A nerve that passes obliquely across the floor and roof of the triangle to innervate the trapezius muscle; damage during biopsy or lymph node removal leads to trapezius paralysis and difficulty combing hair.

Third part of subclavian artery

The specific portion of the subclavian artery that forms the base of the subclavian triangle.

Subclavian vein

Located anterior to the scalenus anterior muscle.

External jugular vein (terminal part)

Drains the superficial structures of the head and neck and empties into the subclavian vein.

Trunks of brachial plexus

Structures present in between the scalenus anterior and scalenas medius muscles.

Cold abscess in posterior triangle

A collection of pus deep to the facial carpet that trickles down from a tubercular abscess of cervical vertebrae, potentially appearing in the axilla or arms via the axillary sheath.

Nerve point of the neck

The junction of the upper and middle third of the posterior border of the sternocleidomastoid where four cutaneous nerves (lesser occipital, greater auricular, transverse cervical, and supraclavicular) and the spinal accessory nerve emerge.

Cervical plexus nerve block

A procedure where an anesthetic agent is injected at the nerve point of the neck.

Brachial plexus block

An injection of local anesthetic between the first rib and the skin above the clavicle, located below a line from the posterior border of the SCM at the cricoid cartilage level to the midpoint of the superior aspect of the clavicle.

Pulsations of subclavian artery

Felt at the root of the neck by pressing behind the clavicle at the posterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle.

Subclavian artery compression

A method to stop hemorrhage from upper limb arteries by pressing the artery against the first rib, lateral to the lower end of the sternocleidomastoid muscle.

Virchow's lymph nodes

The left supraclavicular lymph nodes commonly involved in metastasis from gastric cancer growth.

Supraclavicular lymph nodes

Lymph nodes that are commonly enlarged in tuberculosis, Hodgkin's disease, and malignant growth of the breast, arm, or chest.