Anatomy of the neck: vertebrae, muscles, vessels

The human neck is the part of the body that connects the head and body. Its upper border begins at the edge of the lower jaw. In the body, the neck passes through the jugular notch of the sternum handle and passes through the upper surface of the clavicle. Despite its relatively small size, there are many important structures and organs that are separated by connective tissue.

The form

If the anatomy of the neck in general is the same for any person, then its shape may vary. Like any other organ or part of the body, it has its own personality. This is due to the features of the constitution of the body, age, gender, hereditary traits. The cylindrical shape is a standard type of neck. In childhood and young age, the skin in this area is elastic, elastic, tightly fits cartilage and other protrusions.

When the head is thrown back over the midline of the neck, the horns and body of the hyoid bone are clearly defined, the cartilage of the thyroid gland is ring-shaped, tracheal. Below the body, a fossa is visible - this is the jugular notch of the sternum. In people of medium and thin physique, the muscles on the sides of the neck are clearly visible. It is easy to notice the blood vessels located near the skin.

Neck anatomy

This part of the body contains large vessels and nerves within itself; it is composed of organs and bones that are important for human life. A developed muscle system allows you to make a variety of head movements. The internal structure of the neck consists of such departments as:

• pharynx - taking part in human oral speech, which is the first barrier to pathogenic microorganisms, performs a connecting function for the digestive system;
• larynx - plays a significant role in the speech apparatus, protects the respiratory system;
• trachea - a conductor of air to the lungs, an important component of the respiratory system;
• thyroid gland - an organ of the endocrine system that produces hormones for metabolic processes;
• esophagus - part of the digestive chain, pushes food to the stomach, protects against reflux in the opposite direction;
• spinal cord - an element of the higher nervous system of a person, responsible for the mobility of the body and the activity of organs, reflexes.

In addition, nerves, large vessels and veins pass through the neck. It consists of vertebrae and cartilage, connective tissue and fatty layer. This is a part of the body, which is an important connecting link “head - neck”, due to which the spinal cord and brain are connected.

Neck parts

The front and back areas of the neck are distinguished, as well as many "triangles", which are limited to the lateral edges of the trapezius muscles. The front looks like a triangle with the base upside down. It has limitations: from above - by the lower jaw, from below - by the jugular notch, on the sides - by the edges of the sternocleidomastoid muscle. The middle line divides this part into two medial triangles: right and left. There is also a lingual triangle through which access to the lingual artery can be opened. It is limited in front by the hyoid muscle, from above - the hyoid nerve, from behind and below the tendon of the biceps muscle, next to which are the sleepy triangles.

The scapular-tracheal region is limited to the scapular-hyoid and sternocleidomastoid muscle. In the scapular-clavicular triangle, which is part of the paired lateral triangle, there is the jugular vein, suprascapular vein and artery, and the thoracic and lymphatic ducts. In the scapular-trapezoidal part of the neck, there is an additional nerve and cervical superficial artery, and a transverse artery passes through its medial part.

The area of ​​the scalene muscles makes up the interstitial and preclavicular spaces, inside which the subclavian and suprascapular artery passes, the subclavian and phrenic nerve veins .

The posterior region is bounded by trapezius muscles. Here are the internal carotid artery and jugular vein, as well as the vagus, sublingual, glossopharyngeal, accessory nerves.

Neck bones

The vertebral column consists of 33–34 vertebrae passing through the entire body of a person and serving as his support. Inside is the spinal cord, which connects the periphery to the brain and provides higher reflex activity. The first section of the spine is just inside the neck, thanks to which it has high mobility.

The cervical region consists of 7 vertebrae, in some of them vestiges are preserved that are fused to the transverse processes. Their front part, which is the boundary of the hole, is the rudiment of the rib. The body of the cervical vertebra is transversely elongated, smaller than its counterparts and has a saddle shape. This provides the cervical spine with the greatest mobility compared to other parts of the spinal column.

Holes of the vertebrae together form a channel that serves as a protection for the vertebral artery and vein. The place of passage of the spinal cord is formed by the arches of the cervical vertebrae, it is quite wide and resembles a triangular shape. The spinous processes are bifurcated, due to which many muscle fibers are attached here.

Vertebra Atlant

The first two cervical vertebrae differ in structure from the other five. It is their presence that allows a person to make various head movements: tilts, turns, rotations. The first vertebra is a bone ring. It consists of a front arc, on the convex part of which is located the front tubercle. On the inner side, the articular fossa for the second toothlike process of the cervical vertebra is distinguished.

The atlas vertebra on the posterior arch has a small protruding part - the posterior tubercle. The upper articular processes on the arc replace the articular fossa of the oval shape. They are articulated with the condyles of the occipital bone. The lower articular processes are the fossa, which connect to the next vertebra.

Axis

The second cervical vertebra - the axis, or epistrophy - is distinguished by a developed tooth-like process located in the upper part of his body. On each side of the processes are articular surfaces of a slightly convex shape.

These two vertebrae specific in structure are the basis of neck mobility. In this case, the axis plays the role of the axis of rotation, and the atlas rotates together with the skull.

Cervical muscles

Despite the rather small size, the neck of a person is rich in muscles of various kinds. Here are concentrated superficial, middle, lateral deep muscles, as well as the medial group. Their main purpose in this area is holding the head, providing colloquial speech and swallowing.

Muscles allow you to hold your head, make movements, reproduce speech, swallow and breathe. Their development prevents osteochondrosis of the cervical spine and improves blood flow to the brain.

Fascia neck

Due to the variety of organs passing through this area, the anatomy of the neck suggests the presence of a connective membrane, which limits and protects organs, blood vessels, nerves and bones. This is an element of the "soft" skeleton that performs trophic and supporting functions. Fascias grow together with numerous veins of the neck, thus preventing them from intertwining, which would threaten a person with a violation of the venous outflow.

Their structure is so complex that the anatomy is described differently by the authors. Consider one of the generally accepted classifications, according to which the connective membranes are divided into fascia:

1. Superficial - a loose, thin structure that limits the subcutaneous muscle of the neck. It passes from the neck to the face and chest.
2. Own - is attached from below to the front of the sternum and collarbone, and from above to the temporal bone and lower jaw, then goes to the face area. From the back of the neck connects to the spinous processes of the vertebrae.
3. Scapular-clavicular aponeurosis - looks like a trapezoid and is located between the lateral sides of the scapular-hyoid muscle and hyoid bone, and from below it divides the space between the surface of the sternum from the inside and two collarbones. It covers the front of the larynx, thyroid and trachea. In the midline of the neck, the scapular-clavicular aponeurosis fuses with its own fascia, forming a white line.
4. Intraperitoneal - envelops all the internal organs of the neck, while it consists of two parts: visceral and parietal. The first closes each body individually, and the second jointly.
5. The intervertebral - provides the cover of the long muscles of the head and neck and merges with aponeurosis.

Fascias divide and protect all parts of the neck, thereby preventing the “confusion” of blood vessels, nerve endings and muscles.

Blood flow

The vessels of the neck provide an outflow of venous blood from the head and neck. They are represented by the external and internal jugular vein. Blood in the outer vessel comes from the back of the head in the area of ​​the ear, skin above the shoulder blade and the front of the neck. A little earlier, the clavicle connects to the subclavian and internal jugular veins. The latter eventually grows into the first at the base of the neck and is divided into two brachiocephalic veins: the right and left.

The vessels of the neck, and especially the internal jugular vein, play an important role in blood formation processes. It originates at the base of the skull and serves to drain blood from all vessels of the brain. Its tributaries in the neck are also: superior thyroid, lingual facial, superficial temporal, occipital vein. The carotid artery passes through the neck region, which does not have branches in this area.

Plexus of the neck

The nerves of the neck are the diaphragmatic, skin and muscle structures that are located at the level of the first four cervical vertebrae. They form plexuses that originate in the cervical spinal nerves. The muscle group of the nerves innervates the nearby muscles. The neck and shoulders are set in motion by impulses. The phrenic nerve affects the movements of the diaphragm, pericardial fibers and pleura. Skin branches give rise to the ear, occipital, transverse and supraclavicular nerves.

The lymph nodes

Anatomy of the neck includes a part of the lymphatic system of the body. In this area, it is composed of deep and surface nodes. The anterior ones are located near the jugular vein on the superficial fascia. The deep lymph nodes of the anterior part of the neck are located near the organs from which the outflow of lymph comes from, and have the same name with them (thyroid, pre-throat, etc.). The lateral group of nodes is pharyngeal, jugular and supraclavicular, next to which is located the internal jugular vein. Outflow of lymph from the mouth, middle ear and pharynx, as well as the nasal cavity, takes place into the deep lymph nodes of the neck. In this case, the fluid first passes through the occipital nodes.

The structure of the neck is complex and is thought out by nature to every millimeter. The set of plexuses of nerves and blood vessels connects the brain and peripherals. In one small part of the human body, all possible elements of systems and organs are located at once: nerves, muscles, blood vessels, lymphatic ducts and nodes, glands, spinal cord, the most “mobile” part of the spine.