The Anterior Triangle and Root of Neck


Cervical esophagus

 


Position  
  • Continuous with laryngopharynx at pharyngo esophageal junction

  • Starts at lower border  of cricoid cartilage (C6 vertebrae) and ends at thoracic inlet

  • In the median plane

  • Inclines slightly to the left

Relations  
 
Anterior
Posterior
Right
Left

 

  • Trachea
  • Recurrent laryngeal nerve in tracheoesophageal groove

 

  • Longus coli
  • Body of C7

 

 

 

 

  • Right lobe of thyroid
  • Right  carotid sheath
  • Apex of right pleura

 

  • Left lobe of thyroid
  • Left carotid sheath
  • Left subclavian artery
  • Apex of left pleura
  • Thoracic duct

       
Musculature  
  • Voluntary muscle
  • Outer longitudinal and inner muscle
  • Cricopharyngeal fibres of inferior constrictor act as a sphincter

Blood supply  
  • Segmental anastomosing esophageal branches of inferior thyroid artery
  • Veins drain into inferior thyroid vein
 

Lymphatic drainage  
  • Para tracheal nodes
  • Inferior deep cervical lymph nodes
 
 
Innervation
  • Somatic motor and sensory: Recurrent laryngeal nerve
  • Vasomotor: Inferior cervical sympathetic ganglion through plexus on inferior thyroid artery