Posterior triangle of the neck

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

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Boundaries

It has the following boundaries:

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

A) Nerves and Plexuses:

• Spinal accessory nerve (Cranial Nerve XI)
• Branches of cervical plexus
• Roots and trunks of brachial plexus

B) Vessels:

• Subclavian artery (Third part)
• Transverse cervical artery
• Suprascapular artery
• Terminal part of external jugular vein

C) Lymph Nodes:

• Occipital
• Supraclavicular

D) Muscles:

• Inferior belly of omohyoid muscle

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

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 As such, some of the information contained herein may be outdated.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