BACK OF NECK
- Back of neck or nape
- Nerve supply
- Medial branches of dorsal Rami of
- C2 greater occipital
- C3 third occipital nerve
- Intrinsic muscles of back
- Ligamentum nuchae
- Separates muscles of two sides
- Muscles of nape
- 4 layers superficial to deep
- 1. Trapezius and latissimus dorsi
- 2. Levator scapulae , rhomboids , serratus posterior superior
- Splenius ( capitis and cervicis
- 3. Erector spinae or sacrospinalis
- Iliocostalis
- Longissimus
- Spianlis
- 4. Multifudus , rotatores , interspinales , intertransversii and suboccipital muscles
- Suboccipital triangle
- Suboccipital muscles
- Rectus capitis posterior ( major and minor )
- Obliquus capitis ( superior and inferior )
- Arteries
- Occipital artery
- Arises opposite to facial artery from ECA
- Course
- Runs backwards and upwards
- Deep to lower border of belly of digastric muscle
- Crosses carotid sheath and accessory and hypoglossal nerves
- Deep cervical artery
- Third part of vertebral artery
- Exposure
- Skin
- Superficial fascia
- Boundaries
- Superomedially
- Superior oblique capitis muscle
- Superolaterally
- Superior oblique capitis muscle
- Inferiorly
- Inferior oblique capitis muscle
- Roof
- Medially
- Dense fibrous tissue
- Laterally
- Longissimus capitis
- Floor
- Posterior arch of atlas
- Posterior atlantooccipital membrane
- Contents
- Third part of vertebral artery
- Dorsal ramus of C1 nerve ( suboccipital nerve )
- Suboccipital plexus of veins
- Prevertebral muscles ( anterior vertebral muscles )
- Longus colli ( cervicis )
- Longus capitis
- Rectus capitis anterior
- Rectus capitis Lateralis