Neck Triangles

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The anterior triangle is a region located at the front of the neck. In this article, we shall look at the anatomy of the anterior triangle of the neck – its borders, contents and subdivisions. Note: it is important to note that all triangles mentioned here are paired; they are located on both the left and the right sides of the neck. Borders The anterior triangle is situated at the front of the neck. It is bounded: Superiorly – inferior border of the mandible (jawbone). Laterally – anterior border of the sternocleidomastoid. Medially – sagittal line down the midline of the neck. Investing fascia covers the roof of the triangle, while visceral fascia covers the floor. It can be subdivided further into four triangles – which are detailed later on in this chapter. The contents of the anterior triangle include muscles, nerves, arteries, veins and lymph nodes. The muscles in this part of the neck are divided as to where they lie in relation to the hyoid bone. The suprahyoid muscles are located superiorly to the hyoid bone, and infrahyoids inferiorly. There are several important vascular structures within the anterior triangle. The common carotid artery bifurcates within the triangle into the external and internal carotid branches. The internal jugular vein can also be found within this area – it is responsible for venous drainage of the head and neck. Numerous cranial nerves are located in the anterior triangle. Some pass straight through, and others give rise to branches which innervate some of the other structures within the triangle. The cranial nerves in the anterior triangle are the facial [VII], glossopharyngeal [IX], vagus [X], accessory [XI], and hypoglossal [XII] nerves. Suprahyoid Muscles Infrahyoid Muscles Stylohyoid Digastric Mylohyoid Geniohyoid Omohyoid Sternohyoid Thyrohyoid Sternothyroid By TeachMeSeries Ltd (2021) Fig 2 – The extracranial anatomical course of the hypoglossal nerve, through the anterior triangle of the neck. Subdivisions The anterior triangle is subdivided by the hyoid bone, suprahyoid and infrahyoid muscles into four triangles. Carotid Triangle The carotid triangle of the neck has the following boundaries: Superior – posterior belly of the digastric muscle. Lateral – medial border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle. Inferior – superior belly of the omohyoid muscle. The main contents of the carotid triangle are the common carotid artery (which bifurcates within the carotid triangle into the external and internal carotid arteries), the internal jugular vein, and the hypoglossal and vagus nerves. By TeachMeSeries Ltd (2021) Fig 3 – Carotid triangle of the neck Clinical Relevance: Medical Uses of the Carotid Triangle In the carotid triangle, many of the vessels and nerves are relatively superficial, and so can be accessed by surgery. The carotid arteries, internal jugular vein, vagus and hypoglossal nerves are frequent targets of this surgical approach. The carotid triangle also contains the carotid sinus – a dilated portion of the common carotid and internal carotid arteries. It contains specific sensory cells, called baroreceptors. The baroreceptors detect stretch as a measure of blood pressure. The glossopharyngeal nerve feeds this information to the brain, and this is used to regulate blood pressure. In some people, the baroreceptors are hypersensitive to stretch. In these patients, external pressure on the carotid sinus can cause slowing of the heart rate and a decrease in blood pressure. The brain becomes underperfused, and syncope results. In such patients, checking the pulse at the carotid triangle is not advised. Submental Triangle The submental triangle in the neck is situated underneath the chin. It contains the submental lymph nodes, which filter lymph draining from the floor of the mouth and parts of the tongue. It is bounded: Inferiorly – hyoid bone. Medially – midline of the neck. Laterally – anterior belly of the digastric The floor of the submental triangle is formed by the mylohyoid muscle, which runs from the mandible to the hyoid bone. By TeachMeSeries Ltd (2021) Fig 4 – The submental triangle of the neck. Submandibular Triangle The submandibular triangle is located underneath the body of the mandible. It contains the submandibular gland (salivary), and lymph nodes. The facial artery and vein also pass through this area. The boundaries of the submandibular triangle are: Superiorly – body of the mandible. Anteriorly – anterior belly of the digastric muscle. Posteriorly – posterior belly of the digastric muscle. By TeachMeSeries Ltd (2021) Fig 5 – Lateral view of the neck, showing the submandibular triangle Muscular Triangle The muscular triangle is situated more inferiorly than the subdivisions. It is a slightly ‘dubious’ triangle, in reality having four boundaries. The muscular triangle contains some muscles and organs – the infrahyoid muscles, the pharynx, and the thyroid, parathyroid glands. The boundaries of the muscular triangle are: Superiorly – hyoid bone. Medially – imaginary midline of the neck. Supero-laterally – superior belly of the omohyoid muscle. Infero-laterally – inferior portion of the sternocleidomastoid muscle. By TeachMeSeries Ltd (2021) Fig 6 – Muscular triangle of the neck. Medicine on the Web Ads By logo img-responsive Artificial Intelligence Predicts Survival 4 Ovarian Cancer Medgoo.com img-responsive William Keimig, MD, Doesn’t Like to Think About Retirement Medical Economics img-responsive We Need Help & Your Donation is 100% Tax-Deductible. Docs without Borders Quiz The Anterior Triangle of the Neck Question 1 of 3 Which of the following is NOT a border of the anterior triangle? Anterior border of the sternocleidomastoid Inferior border of the mandible Sagittal line down the midline of the neck. Anterior border of the sternohyoid Report question bookmarksRecommended reading Aberrant Hypoglossal Nerve During Neck Dissection Joshua D. Horton et al., JAMA Otolaryngology Head Neck Surgery Contributions of Individual Muscles to the Submental Surface Electromyogram During Swallowing Phyllis M. Palmer et al., Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 1999 Cricopharyngeal Muscle Dysfunction Following Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulator Placement Bryan J. Stevens et al., JAMA Otolaryngology Head Neck Surgery, 2018 New Jurassic mammaliaform sheds light on early evolution of mammal-like hyoid bones Chang-Fu Zhou et al., Science, 2019 Powered by person3D Model Our 3D anatomical model provides you with hands-on, interactive and valuable learning tool right here on your device. To access the TeachMeAnatomy 3D Model, you must be a premium subscriber.