Triangles of the Neck

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Description[edit | edit source]

The neck, as a geometric region, can be clinically divided using anatomical triangles. The sternocleidomastoid muscle obliquely crosses the neck to form the division between the two major neck triangles: anterior triangle and posterior triangle. Both triangles are further divided into sub-triangles: [1][2]

  1. Anterior Triangle
    • Digastric/Submandibular Triangle
    • Carotid Triangle
    • Muscular Triangle
    • Submental Triangle
  2. Posterior Triangle
    • Occipital Triangle
    • Subclavian/Supraclavicular


The neck is limited[1]:

  • superiorly by the inferior border of the mandible
  • anteriorly by midline of the neck
  • inferiorly by the superior border of the clavicle
  • posteriorly by the anterior margin of the trapezius muscle.

[3]

Anterior Triangle[edit | edit source]

Borders:[1][4]Neck triangles.png

  • Superior border - inferior border of mandible
  • Medial border- midline of neck
  • Lateral border- anterior border of sternocleidomastoid muscle


The Anterior Triangle has an apex that extends to the manubrium of sternum. It is made up of three paired triangles: submandibular (digastric), carotid, and muscular (omotracheal/infrahyoid) triangles, and one unpaired triangle: submental triangle.

Digastric/Submandibular Triangle[edit | edit source]

Submental Triangle[edit | edit source]

Carotid Triangle[edit | edit source]

Muscular Triangle[edit | edit source]

Posterior Triangle[edit | edit source]

Occipital Triangle[edit | edit source]

Subclavian/Supraclavicular Triangle[edit | edit source]

Clinical Significance[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Kikuta S, Iwanaga J, Kusukawa J, Tubbs RS. Triangles of the neck: a review with clinical/surgical applications. Anatomy & Cell Biology. 2019 Jun 1;52(2):120-7.
  2. ↑ Kohan EJ, Wirth GA. Anatomy of the neck. Clinics in plastic surgery. 2014 Jan 1;41(1):1-6.
  3. ↑ 5MinuteSchool. TRIANGLES OF THE NECK ANATOMY MADE EASY - EXPLAINED in 3 MINUTES!! CERVICAL TRIANGLES. Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUvmlf3Wxng [last accessed 05/11/2020]
  4. ↑ Stathakios J, Carron MA. Anatomy, Head and Neck, Neck Triangle. InStatPearls [Internet] 2021 Jul 31. StatPearls Publishing.
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