Occipital triangle

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Occipital triangle
The triangles of the neck. (Anterior triangles to the left; posterior triangles to the right. Occipital triangle labeled at center left.) )
Side of neck, showing chief surface markings. (Nerves are yellow, arteries are red.)
Gray's	subject #145 565
Dorlands/Elsevier	t_17/12821113

The occipital triangle, the larger division of the posterior triangle, is bounded, in front, by the Sternocleidomastoideus; behind, by the Trapezius; below, by the Omohyoideus.

Its floor is formed from above downward by the Splenius capitis, Levator scapulæ, and the Scaleni medius and posterior.

It is covered by the skin, the superficial and deep fasciæ, and by the Platysma below.

The accessory nerve is directed obliquely across the space from the Sternocleidomastoideus, which it pierces, to the under surface of the Trapezius; below, the supraclavicular nerves and the transverse cervical vessels and the upper part of the brachial plexus cross the space.

A chain of lymph glands is also found running along the posterior border of the Sternocleidomastoideus, from the mastoid process to the root of the neck.

See also

• Posterior triangle of the neck

External links

• Norman/Georgetown lesson6

This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained herein may be outdated. Please edit the article if this is the case, and feel free to remove this notice when it is no longer relevant.

v • d • e General anatomy of neck (Throat • Pharynx • Larynx)
Cartilages	Cricoid • Thyroid (Laryngeal prominence) • Epiglottis • Arytenoid • Cuneiform • Corniculate
Ligaments	extrinsic ligaments: Thyrohyoid membrane (Lateral thyrohyoid ligament, Median thyrohyoid ligament) • Hyoepiglottic ligament • Cricotracheal ligament intrinsic ligaments: Cricothyroid ligament
Folds and related structures	folds: (Glossoepiglottic, Aryepiglottic, Vocal, Vestibular) Vocal ligament • Ventricle of the larynx • Infraglottic cavity • Vestibule of larynx • Rima glottidis • Glottis
Triangles of the neck	Anterior of the neck (Muscular, Carotid, Submandibular, Submental) Posterior of the neck (Occipital, Subclavian) Suboccipital
Fascia	Deep cervical fascia (Pretrachial fascia, Prevertebral fascia, Investing layer) • Carotid sheath • Buccopharyngeal fascia
Other	Retropharyngeal space