Craniovertebral Joints and Prevertebral Region - Identifications

Craniovertebral Joints

1. Anterior arch of the atlas
2. Posterior arch of the atlas
3. Superior articular facet of atlas (atlanto-occipital joint articulation)
4. Facet for dens of the atlas (atlanto-axial joint articulation)
5. Anterior and posterior synovial cavities of atlanto-axial joint
6. Transverse ligament of atlas - prevents posterior displacement of dens, component of cruciate ligament
7. Alar ligaments - from dens to margin of foramen magnum, limits rotation
8. Tectorial membrane - superior extension of posterior longitudinal ligament
9. Superior and Inferior longitudinal ligaments - vertical component of cruciate ligament

Prevertebral Region

1. Digastric groove
2. Styloid process
3. Stylomastoid foramen
4. Facial nerve
5. Jugular foramen
6. Internal jugular vein
7. Glossopharyngeal nerve
8. Vagus nerve
9. Spinal accessory nerve
10. Hypoglossal nerve
11. Longus colli muscle
12. Longus capitus muscle
13. Subclavian artery
14. Common carotid artery
15. Vertebral artery
16. Transverse foramen of atlas
17. Thyrocervical trunk
18. Inferior thyroid artery
19. Ascending cervical artery
20. Transverse cervical artery
21. Suprascapular artery
22. Deep cervical artery
23. Thoracic sympathetic trunk
24. Stellate ganglion
25. Vertebral cervical sympathetic ganglion
26. Middle cervical sympathetic trunk ganglion
27. Superior cervical sympathetic trunk ganglion
28. Internal carotid artery
29. Internal carotid nerve and plexus
30. Ansa subclavia
31. Danger space
32. Retropharyngeal space

Vertebral Triangle - Contents and Relationships

Boundaries

• Superior: Transverse process of C6 (carotid tubercle)
• Inferior: Inferior border of subclavian artery
• Medial: Longus colli
• Lateral: Anterior scalene
• Anterior: Prevertebral fascia
• Posterior: Paravertebral musculature

Contents

• Vertebral artery
• Thyrocervical trunk
• Inferior thyroid artery
• suprascapular artery
• Transverse cervical artery
• Ascending cervical artery
• Costocervical trunk
• Deep cervical artery
• Internal thoracic artery
• Thoracic duct (left side)
• Ventral rami of C5-T1
• Cervical Sympathetic trunk
• Ansa subclavia
• Stellate ganglion
• Vertebral ganglion
• Middle cervical sympathetic trunk ganglion
• Grey rami
• Cardiac nerves
• Phrenic nerve
• Cervical parietal pleura
• Suprapleural membrane (Sibson's fascia)

Relationships

• Carotid tubercle - anterior tubercle of C6
• Carotid sheath
• Vagus nerve
• Common carotid artery
• Internal jugular vein
• Brachiocephalic vein
• Thoracic duct on left, right lymphatic duct on right
• First rib
• Thoracic inlet
• Trunks of brachial plexus
• Brachiocephalic vein
• Suprapleural membrane (Sibson's fascia)
• Cupula of lung
• Danger space (alar space)
• Retropharyngeal space