Lateral neck region, scalenic fissure


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Last update: Thursday, 06 Feb 2025 at 2.53 pm.


Lateral neck region has the following borders:

  • Anterior - sternocleidomastoid muscle
  • Posterior - trapezius muscle
  • Inferior - clavicle bone
  • Roof - investing layer of deep cervical fascia
  • Floor - prevertebral fascia, scalene muscles, levator scapulae muscle, splenius capitis muscle

The inferior belly of omohyoid muscle subdivides it into 2 triangles: “Omoclavicular triangle” & “Omotrapezius triangle”.

Omoclavicular triangle:

Also called “supraclavicular/ subclavian triangle”

Borders:
  • Anterior - sternocleidomastoid muscle
  • Superior - inferior belly of omohyoid muscle
  • Inferior - clavicle bone
  • Floor - anterior and medial scalene muscles, 1’st rib, 1’st dictation of serrated anterior
  • Roof - skin, fascia, platysma muscle
Contents:
  • Subclavian artery, suprascapular, transverse cervical, which are branches of the thyrocervical trunk
  • Subclavian vein
  • Phrenic nerve
  • Brachial plexus
  • External jugular vein
  • Fibres of cervical plexus
  • Supraclavicular lymph node

Omotrapezius triangle:

Also called “Occipital triangle”

Borders:
  • Anterior- sternocleidomastoid muscle
  • Posterior- trapezius muscle
  • Inferior- inferior belly of omohyoid muscle
  • Roof- skin, superficial & deep cervical fascias
  • Floor- splenius capitis muscle, levator scapulae, middle and posterior scalene muscles
Contents:
  • Erb’s point- “Punctum Nervosum”. Lesser occipital nerve, great auricular nerve, transverse cervical nerve, supraclavicular nerve
  • Accessory nerve
  • Phrenic nerve
  • External jugular vein
  • Transverse cervical artery
  • Transverse cervical vein

Scalene fissure:

The gap between anterior and middle scalene muscles. Located deep in the lateral cervical region

Borders:
  • Anterior- anterior scalene muscle
  • Posterior- middle scalene muscle
  • Inferior- 1’st rib
Contents:
  • Brachial plexus
  • Subclavian artery

Scalenovertebral triangle:

Borders:
  • Medial- longus colli muscle, vertebral column, esophagus, thyroid gland and trachea
  • Lateral- anterior scalene muscle
  • Superior- “carotid tubercle” (anterior tubercle of C6 on the transverse process which might compress the common carotid artery)
  • Inferior- 1st rib
  • Roof- skin and platysma
Contents:
  • Venous angle- point of drainage of both thoracic duct and right lymphatic duct. Between the internal jugular and subclavian vein
  • Stellate ganglion- the connection of 1st thoracic and inferior cervical ganglion
  • Middle cervical ganglion
  • Thyrocervical trunk- transverse, superficial cervical artery and ascending cervical artery
  • Vertebral artery
  • Thoracic duct

Sources

Stingl, J., Grim, M., & Druga, R. (2012). ''Regional anatomy''. Galen.

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