Anatomy: the structure of the neck of a man in general

The neck is one of the most important parts of the body. It connects the trunk and head. The neck begins from the base of the lower jaw and ends at the upper edge of the clavicle. The structure of the neck of a person is quite complicated, since there are various important organs that support the vital activity of the whole body. These include such as the thyroid gland, spinal cord, vessels that feed the brain, nerve endings and not only.

Borders of the neck and its area

The human neck has two sections: the front and the back. The first refers to the neck itself, and to the rear - the yawning site. There is also another division of the neck boundaries into the following parts:

• two mastoid-sternocleid parts;
• front end;
• the back;
• side pieces in the number of two pieces.

The neck has two boundaries - the top and bottom. The latter passes through the jugular notch of the sternum and along the upper edge of the clavicle. The upper border passes along the edge of the lower jaw in the front, and behind it at the level of the occipital tuberosity.

Neck shape

The structure of the human neck determines to some extent the length and shape. Also important are the sex, age, individual characteristics. Some people have a short neck, while others have a long neck. Each person has the diameter of this part of the body is individual: someone has a thin, someone thick. The shape of the neck resembles a cylinder.

If musculature is well developed, then the neck of a person has a pronounced relief: pits are visible, muscle appears, and men have an Adam's apple.

Functionality of the neck does not depend on its length and shape. But these characteristics are important in the diagnosis of pathologies and during surgical treatment. And before the surgical intervention, the doctor should carefully study all the features of the structure of the neck of the person to be operated.

Neck is considered one of the most vulnerable organs. Through it passes an artery supplying blood to the brain. It passes not deep, but under the skin tissues, between the muscles( in different parts of the neck in different places), so it is easy to palpate.

Also through the neck passes the spine, between the individual vertebrae there are disks that perform a cushioning function: all the shocks, the impacts fall on them.

Neck structure

Anatomical structure of the neck of a man in front is quite complicated. In this part are located a variety of organs, systems, tissues. Among them:

• Larynx and pharynx. These organs are involved in the processes of promoting food through the digestive system. Both organs are responsible for speech formation, take part in breathing, and also protect internal organs from foreign bodies, harmful impurities.
• Trachea. Through it air is delivered to the lungs.
• Esophagus. It performs the function of moving food to the stomach and prevents its penetration back into the pharynx.
• Sleeping artery.
• Jugular veins.
• Seven vertebrae.
• Muscles.
• Lymph nodes. The structure of the human neck includes cervical lymph nodes.

The connective tissue performs the protective and supporting function. As a shock absorber, heat insulator and energy-saving organ acts subcutaneous fat. It protects the neck from hypothermia and from trauma when driving.

Bone apparatus

Anatomically the structure of the head and neck of a man has a complex skeleton. The neck is represented by a vertebral column passing through it, represented by seven cervical vertebrae. In this department, the vertebrae are short, have small dimensions. Such dimensions are due to the fact that in this part the load on them is less than in the thoracic or lumbar region. Despite this, the cervical section has the highest mobility and is most severely injured.

One of the most important vertebrae is the first cervical called the atlas. This name is not accidental: its function is to connect the skull with the spine. Unlike other cervical elements, the atlas does not have a body and a spinous process. He has a posterior tubercle, which is an underdeveloped process. The sides are lined with articular tissue.

The Atlantean joint follows the Atlanto, which connects the first and second vertebrae.

The second cervical vertebra was called axis. He has a tooth that extends upward from the vertebrae.

The neck has several muscles. These are long muscles of the neck and head, three stair muscles, four sublingual, thyroid-breast, etc. Muscles are covered with fascia - these are the shells represented by connective tissue, tendons, nervous starts and vessels.