THE NECK 107 



THE HEAD AND NECK. 



THE NECK. 



Surface Landmarks. The sterno-mastoid muscle, which is 

 the most important landmark in the neck, forms an elevation, 

 i inches wide, between the anterior and posterior triangles. 

 If its anterior border is traced upwards, the mastoid process 

 can be felt lying under cover of the lobule of the ear, rather more 

 than one inch above and behind the angle of the mandible. 

 On deep pressure, midway between these two bony points, 

 pain is elicited owing to the compression of the skin and parotid 

 gland against the subjacent transverse process of the atlas vertebra. 



In the anterior median line of the neck the laryngeal promin- 

 ence, due to the forward projection of the thyreoid cartilage, 

 forms a conspicuous landmark, which is more prominent in 

 men than in women. The greater cornu of the hyoid bone is situ- 

 ated midway between the mastoid process and the laryngeal 

 prominence, but, owing to its mobility, it cannot be made out 

 unless the bone is steadied by placing a finger at the same level 

 on the opposite side of the neck. When the greater cornu is 

 traced forwards, the body of the hyoid bone can be examined. 

 It lies about an inch above the laryngeal prominence and on 

 a level with the lower part of the third cervical vertebra. The 

 arch of the cricoid cartilage, which lies i| inches below the 

 laryngeal prominence, is placed opposite the sixth cervical 

 vertebra. If the finger is thrust backwards and laterally under 

 cover of the anterior border of the sterno-mastoid at this 

 level, the common carotid artery may be compressed against 

 the anterior tubercle of the transverse process of the sixth 

 cervical vertebra the carotid tubercle. 



The anterior border of the trapezius may be traced from its 

 origin on the occipital bone downwards, round the side of the 

 neck, to its insertion into the clavicle. 



The spine of the seventh cervical vertebra can be identified as it 

 lies at the lower end of the nuchal furrow ; the upper six cervical 



