revision
Head and neck
Lateral aspect
| Position | Significance |
|---|---|
| Pterion: 4cm (about) above and anterior to pinna | Anterior division of middle meningeal vessels behind thinnest area of skull, extradural haemorrhages |
| Pterion: above and behind | Central sulcus of cerebral cortex separating motor cortex (anterior) and sensory cortex (posterior) |
| 2cm (about) above pinna | Auditory cortex Superficial temporal pulse (often visible) |
| Between pinna and mandible, extending below angle of mandible | Parotid gland |
| Anterior to pinna | Parotid nodes |
| Mastoid process | Mastoid lymph nodes |
| Temporomandibular joint, below and behind | Terminal branching of external carotid artery |
Anterior aspect
| Position | Significance |
|---|---|
| Bridge of the nose, above and behind | Cribriform plate: anterior cranial fossa fractures, anosmia, CSF rhinorrhoea |
| Supraorbital foramen | Supraorbital nerve (Va) and vessels: fractures |
| Infraorbital foramen | Infraorbital nerves (Vb) and vessels: fractures |
| Mental foramen | Mental nerve (Vc) and vessels: fractures |
Posterior aspect
| Position | Significance |
|---|---|
| External occipital protuberance, above | Visual cortex |
| External occipital protuberance | Confluence of sinuses |
| External occipital protuberance, below | Cerebellum |
Neck
| Position | Significance | Approx. vertebral level |
|---|---|---|
| Hyoid bone, angle of mandible | Tonsillar (jugulodigastric) node | C2 |
| Ear lobe (roughly) – sternoclavicular joint | Internal jugular vein, deep cervical chain of lymph (deep to sternocleidomastoid) | |
| Angle of mandible–midpoint of clavicle | External jugular vein | |
| Lateral to superior border of thyroid cartilage | Bifurcation of common carotid artery, carotid pulse | C3 |
| Behind, and slightly below thyroid prominence | Vocal cords | C4 |
| Cricothyroid membrane | Laryngotomy site | C5 |
| Cricoid cartilage | Cricopharyngeal sphincter, upper extent of oesophagus, trachea | C6 |
| Sternocleidomastoid, trapezius, clavicle | Boundaries of posterior triangle | |
| Posterior triangle: one-third of way down posterior border–one-third of way up anterior border | Accessory nerve (XI) |
Thorax
| Position | Significance | Approx. vertebral level |
|---|---|---|
| Sternoclavicular joint | Formation of brachiocephalic veins (from subclavian, internal jugular) | T2 |
| Suprasternal notch | Trachea | T2 |
| First intercostals space, anteriorly | Formation of superior vena cava | T3 |
| Sternal angle (of Louis) | Bifurcation of trachea, lower limit of arch of aorta | T4 |
| Hilum of lung | T5/6 |
Pleural cavities and reflections
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