chap, ix.] CUT THROAT. 129 



Cut throat and wounds of the neck. The 



skin of the neck is so elastic and mobile that it is 

 readily thrown into folds when a knife, and especially 

 a blunt knife, is drawn across it. Thus, in cases 

 of cut throat several distinct skin-cuts may be found 

 that were all produced by one movement of the knife. 

 The wound in cut throat, whether suicidal or homi- 

 cidal, most frequently involves the thyro-hyoid 

 membrane, next in frequency the trachea, and then 

 the thyroid cartilage. 



1. If the wound be above the hyoid bone the 

 following parts may be cut : Anterior jugular vein ; 

 anterior belly of digastric ; mylo-hyoid, genio-hyoid, 

 genio-hyo-glossus, and hyo-glossus muscles ; the lingual 

 artery ; branches of the facial artery ; the hypoglossal 

 and gustatory nerves ; the submaxillary gland. The 

 substance of the tongue may be cut, and the floor of 

 tiie mouth freely opened. In any case, where the 

 attachments of the tongue are divided the organ is 

 apt to fall back upon the larynx and produce suffoca- 

 tion. 



2. If the wound be across the thyro-hyoid space 

 the following may be the parts cut : Anterior jugular 

 vein ; sterno-hyoid, thyro-hyoid, omo-hyoid muscles ; 

 thyro-hyoid membrane ; inferior constrictor ; superior 

 laryngeal nerve ; superior thyroid artery ; and if 

 near hyoid bone the trunk of the lingual artery may 

 be cut. The pharynx would be opened in a deep 

 wound, and the epiglottis divided near its base. 

 Division of the epiglottis in wounds in this situation 

 is always a serious complication. 



3. If the wound involve the trachea the following 

 may be the parts cut : Anterior jugular vein ; sterno- 

 hyoid, sterno-thyroid, and omo-hyoid muscles ; part of 

 sterno-mastoid ; thyroid gland ; superior and inferior 

 thyroid arteries ; superior, middle, and inferior thyroid 

 veins ; recurrent nerves and the gullet. 



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