Root of the Neck

Information and Background:

This dissection serves as a link between the pectoral region, the upper limb, and the neck. It requires understanding of the material in all three areas. Be sure to review all material leading up to this point as a refresher and tie any loose ends of the material together now that a full dissection of the three regions will be complete.
In this region, the subclavian vein, brachial plexus and subclavian artery pass through.
Understnad the accostal clavicular syndrome and its effects.
The thyroid often has an isthmus that arises from the junction of the right and left lobes that ascends up the trachea. If a cadaver in the lab has this characteristic, take the time to see this and consider its position when a tracheotomy must be performed.

Dissection Tip:

In this dissection, it will be necessary to remove the clavicle. This can be accomplished in many ways. The lateral end of the bone will have to be cut either with a saw, hammer and chisel, or a large pair of snippers. The medial end of the bone can be cut, as the lateral end was, or it can be cut from the manubrium with a scalpel by severing all of the ligaments. Either method will permit unrestricted access to the root of the neck and the structures contained therein. If the choice is made to cut the bone, be sure to avoid the sharp fragments that remain.

Dissection:
    1. Remove the clavicle by the method described above.
    2. Cut and reflect, superiorly, the common carotid artery and internal jugular vein. This will increase the region for viewing.
    3. Isolate the thyrocervical trunk (with its branches) and vertebral arteries ascending off the subclavian artery. The internal thoracic artery will be descending off the subclavian toward the thorax.
    4. Locate the recurrent laryngeal nerve ascending up the side of the larynx from within the thorax. For this nerve, there will be a difference depending n which side of the body you are working on.
    5. The entire mass of the thyroid gland, the sympathetic chain, recurrent laryngeal nerves (ascending and descending), and the trachea can be seen with greater visibility.

Pictoraial Atlas:
Brachial Plexus
Subclavian Artery
Vasculature
Anatomical Differences
Root of the Neck Structures List