Regional Anatomy of the Neck and Its Clinical Application

The neck connects the head, trunk, and upper limbs. Posteriorly, it is supported by the cervical spine of the neck. In the anterior midline, there are organs such as the thyroid gland, parathyroid glands, larynx, trachea, pharynx, and esophagus. Their positions can change with the movements of the neck. The blood vessels and nerves in the neck are generally distributed in an “L” shape. The longitudinally running ones are located on both sides of the viscera including the common carotid artery, internal and external carotid arteries, internal jugular vein, vagus nerve, sympathetic trunks, etc., connecting the head, thorax, and other parts. The transversely arranged ones are located at the root of the neck, including the subclavian artery and vein, and the brachial plexus, etc., connecting the thorax and the upper limbs. The lymphatic return of the whole body also occurs in the neck, where the thoracic duct and the right lymphatic duct respectively empty into the left and right venous angles. There are fascial spaces among various structures in the neck, which facilitate the movement of the viscera and serve as passages for blood vessels and nerves.