Key Features

VL C3-C4 and VL C5-C6

two important vertebral levels

common carotid artery

bifurcates into internal and external carotid arteries

internal carotid artery

has no branches in the neck and ascends into the skull to supply much of the brain. It also supplies the eye and orbit.

external carotid artery

Other regions of the head and neck are supplied by branches of this

larynx and trachea

anterior to the digestive tract in the neck, and can be accessed directly when upper parts of the system are blocked

cricothyrotomy

makes use of the easiest route of access through

the cricothyroid ligament

cricothyroid ligament

The ligament can be palpated in the midline, and usually there are only small blood vessels, connective tissue, and skin

pyramidal lobe

small lobe of the thyroid gland

vagus nerve

descends through the neck and into the thorax and abdomen where it innervates viscera

Cervical Plexus

The anterior rami of C1 to C4 form the

brachial plexus

anterior rami of C5 to C8, together with a large

component of the anterior ramus of T1, form the

brachial plexus

innervates the upper limb

phraynx

common chamber for the digestive and respiratory tracts.

lower airway

can be accessed through the oral cavity by intubation

digestuve tract (esophagus)

can be accessed through the nasal cavity by feeding tubes.

trapezius and sternocleidomastoid

The two muscles that form part of the outer cervical collar divide the neck into anterior and posterior triangles on each side