Posterior triangle of the neck

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Posterior triangle of the neck
The triangles of the neck. (Posterior triangles to the right. Sternocleidomastoideus runs vertically. Occipital triangle labeled at right, and subclavian triangle labeled at bottom.)
Side of neck, showing chief surface markings. (Nerves are yellow, arteries are red.)
Latin	regio cervicalis lateralis, trigonum cervicale posterius
Gray's	subject #145 563
Dorlands/Elsevier	r_07/12700361

The posterior triangle (or lateral cervical region) is a region of the neck.

Contents 1 Boundaries 2 Occipital and subclavian triangles 3 Contents 4 Clinical significance 5 See Also 6 External links

Boundaries

It has the following boundaries:

• in front, by the Sternocleidomastoideus
• behind, by the anterior margin of the Trapezius
• its base is formed by the middle third of the clavicle
• its apex, by the occipital bone

Occipital and subclavian triangles

The posterior triangle is crossed, about 2.5 cm above the clavicle, by the inferior belly of the Omohyoideus, which divides the space into two triangles:

• an upper or occipital triangle
• a lower or subclavian triangle

Contents

It contains the accessory nerve, which crosses the triangle from the upper 1/3 of sternocleidomastoideus to the lower 2/3 of the trapezius.

Clinical significance

It is particularly vulnerable to damage at lymph node biopsy, where damage results in an inability to shrug the shoulders or raise the arm above the head (eg, for brushing hair)

See Also

• Anterior triangle of the neck

External links

• Norman/Georgetown lesson6
• SUNY Figs 24:01-02 - "Identification of the muscles associated with the posterolateral triangle."
• lateral+cervical+region at eMedicine Dictionary

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 As such, some of the information contained herein may be outdated.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