Anatomy of the neck: vertebrae, muscles, vessels

The human's 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 trunk, the neck passes through the jugular notch of the sternum 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 a connective tissue.

The form

If the anatomy of the neck is generally the same for any person, then its shape may differ. Like any other organ or part of the body, it has its own personality. This is due to the peculiarities of the constitution of the body, age, sex, hereditary traits. Cylindrical form - the standard form of the neck. In childhood and young age, the skin in this area is elastic, elastic, tightly clinging to cartilages and other protrusions.

When the head is thrown back on the middle line of the neck, the horns and the body of the hyoid bone are clearly defined, the cartilage of the thyroid gland is cricoid, tracheal. Below to the torso a fossa is visible - this is the jugular cutting of the sternum. People of medium and lean physique on the sides of the neck can easily see the muscles. It is easy to notice and blood vessels located near the skin.

Anatomy of the neck

This part of the body contains large vessels and nerves within it, its organs and bones important for the life of the person. A developed muscular system allows you to perform a variety of head movements. The internal structure of the neck consists of such departments as:

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

In addition, nerves, large vessels and veins pass through the neck region. It consists of vertebrae and cartilage, connective tissue and fat layer. This is part of the body, which is an important connecting link "head-neck", through which the dorsal and brain connect.

Neck parts

Allocate the anterior and posterior regions of the neck, as well as a number of "triangles" that are confined to the lateral edges of the trapezius muscles. The front part looks like a triangle with an upside-down base. It has limitations: from the top - the lower jaw, from the bottom - the jugular notch, along the sides - 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 bounded by the fore-part of the hyoid muscle, on the top - the hyoid nerve, behind and behind the tendon of the digastric muscle, next to which are the sleeping triangles.

The lopatochno-tracheal region is limited to the scapular-hyoid and the sternocleidomastoid muscle. In the scapula-clavicular triangle, which is part of the paired lateral triangle, the jugular vein, the suprapatched vein and the artery, the thoracic and lymphatic duct are located. In the scapular-trapezoid part of the neck there is an additional nerve and a cervical superficial artery, and a transverse artery passes through the medial part of the neck.

The area of the staircases is the interlacial and progenitoral spaces, inside which the artery subclavian and suprapular, the subclavian and the diaphragmatic nerve pass.

The posterior part is bounded by trapezius muscles. There are internal carotid artery and jugular vein, as well as wandering, sublingual, lingopharyngeal, additional nerves.

Neck bones

The vertebral column consists of 33-34 vertebrae passing through the entire body of the person and supporting it. Inside is the spinal cord, which connects the periphery to the brain and provides the highest reflex activity. The first part of the spine is just inside the neck, thanks to which it has a high mobility.

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

The orifices of the vertebrae together form a channel that serves as a defense for the vertebral artery and vein. The place of passage of the spinal cord forms arcs of cervical vertebrae, it is wide enough and resembles a triangular shape. The spinous processes are bifurcated, due to which a lot of muscle fibers are attached here.

The vertebra "atlant"

The first two cervical vertebrae are structurally different from the other five. It is their presence that allows a person to make various head movements: slopes, turns, rotation. The first vertebra is a ring of bone tissue. It consists of an anterior arc, on the convex part of which the anterior tubercle is located. On the inner side, the articular fossa differs for the second tooth-like process of the cervical vertebra.

The vertebra of the atlas on the posterior arc has a small protruding part - posterior tubercle. The upper articular processes on the arc replace the oval-shaped joint fossa. They are articulated with the crotch of the occipital bone. As the lower articular processes protrude fossa, which connect with the next vertebra.

Axis

The second cervical vertebra, the axis, or epistrophe, is distinguished by a developed tooth-shaped process located in the upper part of its body. On each side of the appendages are articular surfaces slightly convex.

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

Muscles of cervical department

Despite the small enough size, the human neck is rich in muscles of different kinds. Here the superficial, middle, lateral deep muscles, and also the medial group are concentrated. Their main purpose in this area is to hold their heads, to ensure conversational speech and swallowing.

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

Fascia of the neck

In connection with the variety of organs passing through this site, the anatomy of the neck suggests the presence of a connective membrane that limits and protects the organs, vessels, nerves and bones. It is an element of the "soft" skeleton, performing trophic and supporting functions. Fascia fuses with the numerous veins of the neck, not allowing them to interwine with each other, which would threaten a person with a violation of venous outflow.

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

1. Superficial is a loose, fine structure that limits the subcutaneous muscle of the neck. It goes from the neck to the face and chest.
2. Own - is attached from below to the front of the sternum and clavicle, and from above to the temporal bone and lower jaw, then passes to the face area. On the back side of the neck it connects with the spinous processes of the vertebrae.
3. Aponeurosis is scapular and clavicular - looks like a trapezoid and is located between the sides of the scapula and the hyoid bone, and from below divides the space between the sternal surface from the inside and two collarbones. It covers the anterior part of the larynx, the thyroid gland and the trachea. On the middle line of the neck, the scapula-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 one closes each organ separately, and the second one together.
5. The invertebrate - provides a cover for the long muscles of the head and neck and merges with the aponeurosis.

The fascia divide and protect all parts of the neck, thus preventing the "confusion" of vessels, nerve endings and muscles.

Blood flow

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 nape of the ear, the skin above the scapula and the front of the neck. A little before the collarbone, it connects with the subclavian and internal jugular vein. The latter eventually grows into the first at the base of the neck and divides into two brachiocephalic veins: the right and left.

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

Nervous plexus of the neck

Nerves of the neck are diaphragmatic, cutaneous and muscular structures that are located at the level of the first four cervical vertebrae. They form plexuses that originate in the cervical spinal nerves. The muscular group of nerves innervates nearby muscles. The neck and shoulders are driven by impulses. The diaphragmatic 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 also includes part of the body's lymphatic system. In this area it is composed of deep and superficial nodes. The anterior ones are located near the jugular vein on the superficial fascia. Deep lymph nodes of the anterior part of the neck are located near the organs from which the outflow of lymph flows, and have the same names with them (thyroid, pre-horten, etc.). The lateral group of nodes is made by the pharyngeal, jugular and supraclavicular, next to which is the internal jugular vein. In the deep lymph nodes of the neck, the outflow of lymph from the mouth, the middle ear and pharynx, and also the nasal cavity. The fluid first passes through the occipital nodes.

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