The human neck is the part of the body that connects the head and the body. Its upper border begins at the edge of the lower jaw. In the trunk, the neck passes through the jugular notch of the manubrium 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 connective tissue.
Shape
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 individuality. This is due to the peculiarities of the constitution of the body, age, gender, hereditary characteristics. The cylindrical shape is the standard form of the neck. In childhood and young age, the skin in this area is firm, elastic, tightly fits cartilage and other protrusions.
When tilting the head on the midline of the neck, the horns and body of the hyoid bone are clearly defined, the cartilages of the thyroid gland - cricoid, tracheal. A hole is visible below the body - this is the jugular notch of the sternum. In people of average and thinphysique on the sides of the neck muscles 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 inside, it is made up of organs and bones that are important for human life. A developed muscular 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 the oral speech of a person, being the first barrier to pathogenic microorganisms, performs a binding 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 is 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;
- the spinal cord is an element of the human higher nervous system responsible for the mobility of the body and the activity of organs, reflexes.
In addition, nerves, large vessels and veins pass through the neck area. It consists of vertebrae and cartilage, connective tissue and fat layer. It is a part of the body that is an important “head-neck” link, thanks to which the spinal cord and brain are connected.
Parts of the neck
Highlight the front and back of the neck, as well as many "triangles" that are limitedlateral edges of the trapezius muscles. The front part looks like a triangle with the base turned 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. The lingual triangle is also located here, through which access to the lingual artery can be opened. It is limited in front by the hyoid muscle, above by the hyoid nerve, behind and below by the tendon of the digastric muscle, next to which the carotid triangles are located.
The scapular-tracheal region is limited to the scapular-hyoid and sternocleidomastoid muscles. In the scapular-clavicular triangle, which is part of the paired lateral triangle, there is a jugular vein, suprascapular vein and artery, thoracic and lymphatic ducts. In the scapular-trapezoid part of the neck there is an accessory nerve and a cervical superficial artery, and a transverse artery passes through its medial part.
The area of the scalene muscles is the interscalene and prescalene spaces, inside which the subclavian and suprascapular artery, the subclavian vein and the phrenic nerve pass.
The back section is limited by the trapezius muscles. Here are the internal carotid artery and jugular vein, as well as the vagus, hypoglossal, glossopharyngeal, accessory nerves.
Neck bones
The spinal column consists of 33-34 vertebrae that pass through the entire body of a person and serve as a support for him. Inside is the spinal cord, whichconnects the periphery with 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, some of them have preserved rudiments that are fused with the transverse processes. Their anterior part, which is the boundary of the hole, is a 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 region with the greatest mobility compared to other parts of the spinal column.
The openings of the vertebrae together form a canal that serves as protection for the vertebral artery and vein. The passage of the spinal cord is formed by the arcs of the cervical vertebrae, it is quite wide and resembles a triangular shape. The spinous processes are bifurcated, so many muscle fibers are attached here.
Atlas vertebra
The first two cervical vertebrae differ in structure from the other five. It is their presence that allows a person to make a variety of head movements: tilts, turns, rotations. The first vertebra is a ring of bone tissue. It consists of an anterior arch, on the convex part of which the anterior tubercle is located. On the inside, there is a glenoid fossa for the second odontoid process of the cervical vertebra.
The atlas vertebra on the posterior arch has a small protruding part - the posterior tubercle. The superior articular processes on the arc replace the oval articular fossae. They are articulated with the condyles of the occipital bone. The lower articular processes are pits that connect to the next vertebra.
Axis
The second cervical vertebra - the axis, or epistrophy - is distinguished by a developed odontoid process located in the upper part of its body. On each side of the processes are articular surfaces of a slightly convex shape.
These two structurally specific vertebrae 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 its rather small size, the human neck is rich in various types of muscles. The superficial, middle, lateral deep muscles, as well as the medial group, are concentrated here. Their main purpose in this area is to hold the head, provide conversational speech and swallow.
| Muscle name | Location | Performed functions |
| Llongus neck | Anterior spine, C1 to Th3 length | Allows to bend and unbend the head, antagonist of the back muscles |
| Long head muscle | It originates on the tubercles of the transverse processes C2–C6 and inserts on the inferior basilar part of the occiput | |
| Stair (front, middle, back) | Begins at the transverse processes of the cervical vertebrae and attaches to the I-II rib | Involved in flexion of the cervical spine and lifts the ribs when inhaled |
| Sterno-hyoid | Comes from the sternum and attaches to the hyoid bone | Drags the larynx and hyoid bone down |
| Scapular-hyoid | Scapula - hyoid bone | |
| Sternothyroid | Attached to the sternum and thyroid cartilage of the larynx | |
| Thyrohyoid | Located on the area of the thyroid cartilage of the larynx to the hyoid bone | |
| Chin-hyoid | Begins at the lower jaw and ends at the attachment to the hyoid bone | |
| Digastric | It originates at the mastoid process and attaches to the lower jaw | Drags the larynx and hyoid up and forward, lowers the mandible while fixing the hyoid |
| Malohyoid | Begins at the lower jaw and ends at the hyoid bone | |
| Stylohyoid | Located on the styloid process of the temporal bone and attached to the hyoid bone | |
| Subcutaneous cervical | Originates from the fascia of the deltoid and pectoralis major musclesand is attached to the fascia of the masticatory muscle, the edge of the lower jaw and the mimic muscles of the face | Tightens the skin of the neck, prevents squeezing of the saphenous veins |
| Sternoclavicular-mastoid | Attached from the upper edge of the sternum and the sternal end of the clavicle to the mastoid process of the temporal bone | Its contraction on both sides is accompanied by pulling the head back, one-sided - by turning the head in the opposite direction |
Muscles allow you to hold your head, make movements, reproduce speech, swallow and breathe. Their development prevents cervical osteochondrosis and improves blood flow to the brain.
Fascia of the neck
Due to the variety of organs passing through this area, the anatomy of the neck suggests the presence of a connective sheath that limits and protects organs, vessels, nerves and bones. This is an element of the "soft" skeleton that performs trophic and support functions. Fascia grow together with numerous veins of the neck, thereby preventing them from intertwining with each other, which would threaten a person with a violation of the venous outflow.
Their structure is so complex that the anatomy is described in different ways by the authors. Consider one of the generally accepted classifications, according to which the connecting sheaths are divided into fascia:
- Superficial - a loose, thin structure that limits the subcutaneous muscle of the neck. It moves from the neck to the face and chest.
- Own - attached from below to the front of the sternumand collarbone, and from above to the temporal bone and lower jaw, then goes to the face area. From the back of the neck it connects to the spinous processes of the vertebrae.
- Scapular-clavicular aponeurosis - looks like a trapezoid and is located between the sides of the scapular-hyoid muscle and the hyoid bone, and from below divides the space between the surface of the sternum from the inside and two collarbones. It covers the anterior part of the larynx, thyroid gland and trachea. Along the midline of the neck, the scapular-clavicular aponeurosis fuses with its own fascia, forming a white line.
- Intracervical - envelops all the internal organs of the neck, while it consists of two parts: visceral and parietal. The first closes each organ separately, and the second jointly.
- Anterior Vertebral - provides cover for the long muscles of the head and neck and merges with the aponeurosis.
Fascia separates and protects all parts of the neck, thus preventing the "confusion" of blood vessels, nerve endings and muscles.
Bloodflow
Vessels of the neck provide outflow of venous blood from the head and neck. They are represented by the external and internal jugular vein. Blood in the external vessel comes from the back of the head in the ear area, the skin over the shoulder blade and the front of the neck. A little earlier than the clavicle, it connects to the subclavian and internal jugular veins. The latter eventually develops into the former at the base of the neck and divides into two brachiocephalic veins: the right and left.
The vessels of the neck, and especially the internal jugular vein, play an important role in the processes of hematopoiesis. It starts at the baseskull 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 has no branches in this area.
Nerve plexus of the neck
Nerves of the neck are diaphragmatic, skin and muscle structures, which are located at the level of the first four cervical vertebrae. They form plexuses that originate from the cervical spinal nerves. The muscular group of nerves innervates nearby muscles. The neck and shoulders are set in motion with the help of impulses. The phrenic nerve influences the movements of the diaphragm, pericardial fibers, and pleura. The cutaneous branches give rise to the auricular, occipital, transverse, and supraclavicular nerves.
Lymph nodes
The anatomy of the neck includes part of the body's lymphatic system. In this area, it is made up of deep and superficial 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, and have the same name with them (thyroid, preglottal, etc.). The lateral group of nodes is pharyngeal, jugular and supraclavicular, next to which is the internal jugular vein. In the deep lymph nodes of the neck, lymph is drained from the mouth, middle ear and pharynx, as well as the nasal cavity. In this case, the fluid first passes through the occipital nodes.
The structure of the neck is complex and thought out to every millimeternature. The totality of plexuses of nerves and blood vessels connects the work of the brain and the periphery. 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” section of the spine.
