Practical Anatomy
Dental students
LAB 3
Dr. Firas M. Ghazi
Posterior triangle of the neck
Objectives
By the end of this lab students are expected to be able to
1. Discuss the boundaries, roof and floor of the posterior triangle
2. List the content of the triangle
3. Discuss the course of the accessory nerve within the triangle
4. Locate the cutaneous branches of cervical plexus
5. Comprehend the course and surface anatomy of external jugular vein
6. Use surface anatomy of subclavian artery to stop bleeding upper limb in emergency
Check List
 Boundaries:
1. Trapezius nerve supply……………….
2. Sternocleidomastoid nerve supply……………….
3. Clavicle
 Subdivisions by inferior belly of omohyoid
1. Occipital triangle
2. Supraclavicular triangle
 Roof: investing layer of deep cervical fascia
 Floor: prevertebral fascia covering the following structures (form above down)
1. Semispinalis capitis (may be seen)
2. Splenius
3. Levator scapulae
4. Scalenus medius.
5. Trunks of brachial plexus
6. Subclavian artery
7. Scalenus anterior (may be seen)
 Content:
1. Accessory nerve
2. Lymph nodes
3. Inferior belly of omohyoid
4. Transverse cervical and suprascapular vessels
5. External jugular vein
6. Cutaneous branches of the cervical plexus
 Lesser occipital nerve (c2)
 Great auricular nerve (c2, 3, mostly 2)
 Transverse cervical nerve (c2, 3)
 Supraclavicular nerve (c3, 4, but mostly 4)
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Practical Anatomy
Dental students
LAB 3
Dr. Firas M. Ghazi
Exercise (1):
List the structures crossing the sternocleidomastoid muscle superficially:
123-
Exercise (2):
Use the figure on the right to:
1- Name the labeled structures
F
2- Which nerve supply A and B
E
3- Name the muscle deep to G
G
A
4- Name the triangle located below C
B
C
D
Home work:
Describe the surface anatomy of the subclavian artery within the posterior triangle
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