Triangles of the neck
Encyclopedia
Anatomists use the term triangles of the neck to describe the divisions created by the major muscles in the region.
The side of the neck
presents a somewhat quadrilateral outline, limited, above, by the lower border of the body of the mandible, and an imaginary line extending from the angle of the mandible to the mastoid process
; below, by the upper border of the clavicle
; in front, by the middle line of the neck; behind, by the anterior margin of the Trapezius.
This space is subdivided into two large triangles by Sternocleidomastoid, which passes obliquely across the neck, from the sternum and clavicle
below, to the mastoid process
and occipital bone
above.
The triangular space in front of this muscle is called the Anterior triangle of the neck
; and that behind it, the Posterior triangle of the neck
.
The side of the neck
Neck
The neck is the part of the body, on many terrestrial or secondarily aquatic vertebrates, that distinguishes the head from the torso or trunk. The adjective signifying "of the neck" is cervical .-Boner anatomy: The cervical spine:The cervical portion of the human spine comprises seven boney...
presents a somewhat quadrilateral outline, limited, above, by the lower border of the body of the mandible, and an imaginary line extending from the angle of the mandible to the mastoid process
Mastoid process
The mastoid process is a conical prominence projecting from the undersurface of the mastoid portion of the temporal bone. It is located just behind the external acoustic meatus, and lateral to the styloid process...
; below, by the upper border of the clavicle
Clavicle
In human anatomy, the clavicle or collar bone is a long bone of short length that serves as a strut between the scapula and the sternum. It is the only long bone in body that lies horizontally...
; in front, by the middle line of the neck; behind, by the anterior margin of the Trapezius.
This space is subdivided into two large triangles by Sternocleidomastoid, which passes obliquely across the neck, from the sternum and clavicle
Clavicle
In human anatomy, the clavicle or collar bone is a long bone of short length that serves as a strut between the scapula and the sternum. It is the only long bone in body that lies horizontally...
below, to the mastoid process
Mastoid process
The mastoid process is a conical prominence projecting from the undersurface of the mastoid portion of the temporal bone. It is located just behind the external acoustic meatus, and lateral to the styloid process...
and occipital bone
Occipital bone
The occipital bone, a saucer-shaped membrane bone situated at the back and lower part of the cranium, is trapezoidal in shape and curved on itself...
above.
The triangular space in front of this muscle is called the Anterior triangle of the neck
Anterior triangle of the neck
-Boundaries:The triangle is inverted with its apex inferior to its base which is under the chin.-Nerve supply:2 Bellies of Digastric* Anterior: Mylohyoid nerve* Posterior: Facial nerve-Divisions:...
; and that behind it, the Posterior triangle of the neck
Posterior triangle of the neck
-Boundaries:It has the following boundaries:Apex: Union of the sternocleidomastoid and the trapezius muscles at the superior nuchal line of the occipital boneAnterior: Posterior border of the sternocleidomastoideus...
.