The neck is one of the most important parts of the body. She connects the torso and head. The neck starts from the base of the lower jaw and ends at the upper edge of the clavicle. The structure of the human neck is quite complex, since various important organs are located here that support the vital activity of the whole body. These include the thyroid gland, spinal cord, blood vessels that feed the brain, nerve endings and more.
The boundaries of the neck and its area
By structure, the human neck has two sections: front and back. The neck itself belongs to the first, and the back part is to the back. There is also another division of the borders of the neck into the following parts:
- two mastoid-sternoclavicular parts;
- front end;
- rear part;
- side parts in the amount of two pieces.
The neck has two borders - upper and lower. The latter passes along the jugular notch of the sternum and along the upper edge of the clavicle. The upper border runs along the edge of the lower jaw in front and behind at the level of the occipital tuberosity.
Neck shape
The structure of the human neck determines to some extent the length and shape. Also important are gender, age, individual characteristics. Some people have a short neck, while others have a long neck. For each person, the diameter of this part of the body is individual: for some it is thin, for others it is thick. The shape of the neck resembles a cylinder.
If the musculature is well developed, then the neck of the person has a pronounced relief in structure: pits are visible, muscle appears, and in men, Adam's apple is observed.
The functionality of the neck does not depend on its length and shape. But these characteristics are important in the diagnosis of pathologies and during surgical treatment. And before performing the surgery, the doctor must carefully examine all the structural features of the neck of the person who is to undergo surgery.
The neck is considered one of the most vulnerable organs. An artery passes through it, supplying blood to the brain. It passes not deep, but under the skin tissue, between the muscles (in different parts of the neck in different places), so it is easy to palpate.
Also, the spine passes through the neck, between the individual vertebrae there are disks that perform a shock-absorbing function: all the jolts and bumps fall on them.
Neck structure
The anatomical structure of the human neck in front is quite complex. In this part, a variety of organs, systems, tissues are located. Among them:
- Larynx and pharynx. These organs are involved in the processes of promoting food through the digestive system. Both organs are responsible for speech formation, take part in respiration, and also protect internal organs from foreign bodies, harmful impurities.
- Trachea. Through it air is delivered to the lungs.
- Esophagus. It performs the function of moving food to the stomach and prevents its entry back into the throat.
- Carotid artery.
- Jugular veins.
- Seven vertebrae.
- The muscles.
- Lymph nodes. The structure of the human neck includes cervical lymph nodes.
The protective and supporting function is performed by the connective tissue. Subcutaneous adipose tissue acts as a shock absorber, heat insulator and energy-saving organ. It protects the organs of the neck from hypothermia and from injury when moving.
Bone machine
The anatomical structure of the head and neck of a person has a complex skeleton. The neck is represented by a vertebral column passing through it, represented by seven cervical vertebrae. In this section, the vertebrae are short, have small dimensions. Such dimensions are due to the fact that in this part the load on them is less than in the thoracic or lumbar region. Despite this, the cervical region has the highest mobility and is most likely to be injured.
One of the most important vertebrae is the first cervical vertebra called atlas. It was no coincidence that it got such a name: its function is to connect the skull with the spine. Unlike other cervical elements, the atlas has no body and spinous process. He has a posterior tubercle, which is an underdeveloped process. The sides are lined with articular tissue.
Following the atlant is the atlantoaxial joint, which connects the first and second vertebrae.
The second cervical vertebra was called axis. He has a tooth extending upward from the vertebra.
The neck has several muscles. These are the long muscles of the neck and head, three scalene muscles, four sublingual, thyroid-sternal, and others. The muscles are covered with fasciae - these are membranes represented by connective tissue, tendons, nerve triggers and blood vessels.