| Anterior triangle of the neck | |
|---|---|
 Anterior triangle | |
 Side of neck, showing chief surface markings. (Nerves are yellow, arteries are red.) | |
| Details | |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | Trigonum cervicale anterius Trigonum colli anterius Regio cervicalis anterior |
| TA98 | A01.2.02.002 |
| TA2 | 230 |
| FMA | 57777 |
| Anatomical terminology | |
The anterior triangle is a region of the neck.
The triangle is inverted with its apex inferior to its base which is under the chin. [1]
| Inferior boundary (apex) | Jugular notch in the manubrium of the sternum |
| Anterior boundary | Midline of the neck from chin to the jugular notch |
| Posterior boundary | The anterior margin of Sternocleidomastoid |
| Superior boundary (base) | The lower border of the body of the mandible, and a line extending from the angle of the mandible to the mastoid process |
Investing fascia covers the roof of the triangle while visceral fascia covers the floor.
Muscles:
2 Bellies of Digastric
Stylohyoid: by the facial nerve, by a branch from that to the posterior belly of digastric.
Mylohyoid: by its own nerve, a branch of the inferior alveolar ( from the mandibular division of trigeminal nerve), which arises just before the parent nerve enters the mandibular foramen, pierces the sphenomandibular ligament, and runs forward on the inferior surface of the mylohyoid, supplying it and the anterior belly of the digastric.
Geniohyoid: by a branch from the hypoglossal nerve consisting of fibres from the C1 nerve.
Sternohyoid, Omohyoid, Sternothyroid are supplied by Ansa cervicalis.
Thyrohyoid: by a branch of hypoglossal nerve but the fibres are all 'hitch-hiking' from C1.
This space is subdivided into four smaller triangles by the Digastricus above, and the superior belly of the Omohyoideus.
These smaller triangles are named:
The neck is the part of the body on many vertebrates that connects the head with the torso and provides the mobility and movements of the head. The structures of the human neck are anatomically grouped into four compartments; vertebral, visceral and two vascular compartments. Within these compartments, the neck houses the cervical vertebrae and cervical part of the spinal cord, upper parts of the respiratory and digestive tracts, endocrine glands, nerves, arteries and veins. Muscles of the neck are described separately from the compartments. They bound the neck triangles.
Articles related to anatomy include:
The hyoid bone is a horseshoe-shaped bone situated in the anterior midline of the neck between the chin and the thyroid cartilage. At rest, it lies at the level of the base of the mandible in the front and the third cervical vertebra (C3) behind.
The mandibular nerve (V3) is the largest of the three divisions of the trigeminal nerve, the fifth cranial nerve (CN V).
The external carotid artery is a major artery of the head and neck. It arises from the common carotid artery when it splits into the external and internal carotid artery. External carotid artery supplies blood to the face and neck.
The suprahyoid muscles are four muscles located above the hyoid bone in the neck. They are the digastric, stylohyoid, geniohyoid, and mylohyoid muscles. They are all pharyngeal muscles, with the exception of the geniohyoid muscle. The digastric is uniquely named for its two bellies. Its posterior belly rises from the mastoid process of the cranium and slopes downward and forward. The anterior belly arises from the digastric fossa on the inner surface of the mandibular body, which slopes downward and backward. The two bellies connect at the intermediate tendon. The intermediate tendon passes through a connective tissue loop attached to the hyoid bone. The mylohyoid muscles are thin, flat muscles that form a sling inferior to the tongue supporting the floor of the mouth. The geniohyoids are short, narrow muscles that contact each other in the midline. The stylohyoids are long, thin muscles that are nearly parallel with the posterior belly of the digastric muscle.
The infrahyoid muscles, or strap muscles, are a group of four pairs of muscles in the anterior (frontal) part of the neck. The four infrahyoid muscles are the sternohyoid, sternothyroid, thyrohyoid and omohyoid muscles.
The digastric muscle is a small muscle located under the jaw. The term "digastric muscle" refers to this specific muscle. However, other muscles that have two separate muscle bellies include the ligament of Treitz, omohyoid, occipitofrontalis.
The geniohyoid muscle is a narrow muscle situated superior to the medial border of the mylohyoid muscle. It is named for its passage from the chin to the hyoid bone.
The mylohyoid muscle or diaphragma oris is a paired muscle running from the mandible to the hyoid bone, forming the floor of the oral cavity of the mouth. It is named after its two attachments near the molar teeth. These muscles are mesodermal in embryologic origin. The mylohyoid muscle is derived from the first pharyngeal arch. It forms the floor of the submental triangle.
In anatomy, the left and right common carotid arteries (carotids) are arteries that supply the head and neck with oxygenated blood; they divide in the neck to form the external and internal carotid arteries.
The ansa cervicalis is a loop of nerves that are part of the cervical plexus. It lies superficial to the internal jugular vein in the carotid triangle. Its name means "handle of the neck" in Latin.
The sternothyroid muscle, or sternothyroideus, is an infrahyoid muscle in the neck. It acts to depress the hyoid bone. It is below the sternohyoid muscle. It is shorter and wider than the sternohyoid.
The superior thyroid artery arises from the external carotid artery just below the level of the greater cornu of the hyoid bone and ends in the thyroid gland.
The deep cervical fascia lies under cover of the platysma, and invests the muscles of the neck; it also forms sheaths for the carotid vessels, and for the structures situated in front of the vertebral column. Its attachment to the hyoid bone prevents the formation of a dewlap.
The submandibular triangle corresponds to the region of the neck immediately beneath the body of the mandible.
The carotid triangle is a portion of the anterior triangle of the neck.
The inferior carotid triangle, is bounded, in front, by the median line of the neck from the hyoid bone to the sternum; behind, by the anterior margin of the sternocleidomastoid; above, by the superior belly of the omohyoid.
The cervical spinal nerve 1 (C1) is a spinal nerve of the cervical segment. C1 carries predominantly motor fibres, but also a small meningeal branch that supplies sensation to parts of the dura around the foramen magnum.
The submandibular space is a fascial space of the head and neck. It is a potential space, and is paired on either side, located on the superficial surface of the mylohyoid muscle between the anterior and posterior bellies of the digastric muscle. The space corresponds to the anatomic region termed the submandibular triangle, part of the anterior triangle of the neck.
This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 563 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)
