X CLOSE

Dissection of head and neck from a posterior approach

Relations of left sternocleidomastoid muscle, internal jugular vein, cervical plexus and cervical spine

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Image #80-7
Bassett Image
Diagram Image
Legend Image
Dissection of head and neck from a posterior approach
Relations of left sternocleidomastoid muscle, internal jugular vein, cervical plexus and cervical spine
The fascia has been removed from the upper part of the sternocleidomastoid muscle, which has been pulled somewhat anteriorly. The bodies of the upper cervical vertebrae have been exposed to the left of the midline. The levator scapulae muscle has been cut from its origins and retracted medially and inferiorly to expose the cervical plexus.
  1. Internal jugular vein (pointer at inferior margin of jugular foramen)
  2. Hypoglossal nerve (XII)
  3. Accessory nerve (XI)
  4. Tendon of insertion of longissimus capitis muscle (divided by occipital artery)
  5. Splenius capitis muscle (cut across)
  6. Anterior branch of cervical nerve I
  7. Posterior belly of digastric muscle
  8. Levator scapulae muscle (cut across; a similar, more inferior origin is visible medial to the third cervical nerve (24))
  9. Sternocleidomastoid muscle
  10. Ascending cervical artery
  11. Lesser occipital nerve
  12. Upper pointer: Greater auricular nerve and superficial cutaneous nerve Lower pointer: Supraclavicular nerves
  13. Posterior cervical triangle
  14. External jugular vein (cut across)
  15. Upper pointer: Foramen magnum (anterior margin) Lower pointer: Dens (axis)
  16. Right alar ligament
  17. Joint cavity between dens and transverse ligament of atlas
  18. Inferior oblique capitis muscle (cut across)
  19. Cervical nerve III
  20. Upper pointer: Arch of axis Lower pointer: Roots of cervical nerve III
  21. Semispinalis capitis muscle
  22. Splenius capitis muscle
  23. Upper pointer: Basivertebral vein (cut off at junction with longitudinal vertebral sinus) Lower pointer: Body cervical vertebra llI
  24. Cervical nerve III
  25. Intervertebral joint (between articular processes of C. III- IV)
  26. Ganglion cervical nerve V
  27. Annulus fibrosus intervertebral disc (C. IV-V)
  28. Articular surface superior cervical vertebra VI
  29. Levator scapulae muscle (also see 8 above)