Corpus: Carotid triangle

The trigonum caroticum is a triangular anatomical area in the anterior neck region (regio cervicalis anterior).

The trigonum caroticum is located below the platysma and the superficial cervical fascia. Its boundaries are as follows:

• cranial: posterior venter of the digastric muscle and the stylohyoid muscle
• dorsolateral: anterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle
• ventromedial: superior venter of the omohyoid muscle

In the trigonum caroticum, the common carotid artery divides into the internal carotid artery and the external carotid artery. The latter still gives off five branches in the carotid trigonum:

• superior thyroid artery
• arteria lingualis
• Arteria facialis
• Arteria pharyngea ascendens
• sternocleidomastoid ramus from the occipital artery

Also running together with the carotid artery in the vascular-nerve sheath of the neck (carotid vagina):

• Internal jugular vein
• Vagus nerve

In addition to the vagus nerve, one of its branches, the superior laryngeal nerve, is also located in the carotid trigonum.

The carotid trigonum also contains the following:

• Ansa cervicalis profunda (radix superior and radix inferior)
• Accessory nerve (nerve XI)
• Hypoglossal nerve (nerve XII)

The anterior superior border of the trigonum caroticum is partially covered by the submandibular gland, which projects with its lower pole into the carotid triangle. The posterosuperior angle of the triangle is in contact with the lobus colli of the parotid gland.

• Textbook of topographical anatomy, Hafferl, Anton