SIDE OF THE NECK: POSTERIOR TRIANGLE

Triangles of Neck

• Suboccipital triangle:

  • Boundaries:
    • Superior (base): Occipital bone
    • Inferior (base): Ligamentum nuchae
    • Posterior (base): Transverse process of C1
  • Contents:
    • Suboccipital muscles (rectus capitis posterior major, rectus capitis posterior minor, obliquus capitis superior, obliquus capitis inferior)
    • Posterior atlanto-occipital membrane
  • Applied aspect:
    • Suboccipital triangle is an important landmark for the insertion of the suboccipital muscles, which are responsible for the rotation of the head.

• Occipital triangle:

  • Boundaries:
    • Superior (base): Occipital bone
    • Inferior (base): Superior nuchal line
    • Posterior (base): Transverse process of C1
  • Contents:
    • Occipital artery
    • Greater occipital nerve
    • Occipital vein
  • Applied aspect:
    • Occipital triangle is a region of high vascularity and is an important site for the anastomosis of the occipital arteries.

• Posterior triangle of the neck:

  • Boundaries:
    • Superior (base): Inferior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle
    • Inferior (base): Clavicle
    • Posterior (base): Trapezius muscle
  • Contents:
    • Subclavian artery
    • Subclavian vein
    • Trunks of the accessory nerve
    • Suprascapular artery
    • Suprascapular nerve
    • Occipital artery
  • Applied aspect:
    • Posterior triangle is an important region for the surgical approach to the subclavian artery and vein.

Posterior Triangle of the Neck

• Boundaries:
  • Superior (base): Inferior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle
  • Inferior (base): Clavicle
  • Posterior (base): Trapezius muscle
• Contents:
  • Subclavian artery
  • Subclavian vein
  • Trunks of the accessory nerve
  • Suprascapular artery
  • Suprascapular nerve
  • Occipital artery
• Applied aspect:
  • Posterior triangle is an important region for the surgical approach to the subclavian artery and vein.

Boundaries of Posterior Triangle of the Neck

• Superior (base): Inferior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle
• Inferior (base): Clavicle
• Posterior (base): Trapezius muscle

Contents of Posterior Triangle of the Neck

• Subclavian artery
• Subclavian vein
• Trunks of the accessory nerve
• Suprascapular artery
• Suprascapular nerve
• Occipital artery artery