Nerves in the neck | Neck

Nerves in the neck

In the spinal canal (formed by the vertebral bodies and vertebral arches) lies the spinal cord, which continues directly from the brain. It contains numerous nerve cords that transmit commands from the brain to the periphery or report information from the periphery to the brain. In the neck area, the nerves also go off to the arms, which form the arm plexus (arm nerve plexus) at the level of the neck. Some cranial nerves, i.e. nerves that originate directly from the brain, also run through the neck (e.g. the vagus nerve, which also innervates the vocal cords)

Neck lymph nodes

The neck contains numerous lymph nodes, which play an important role in the immune system. The neck lymph nodes are divided into three regions: The superficial lymph nodes: Arrangement on both sides along the jugular vein (neck vein) The deep lymph nodes: Arrangement on both sides along the arteria carotis communis (carotid artery) The front lymph nodes: Centered in front of the larynx and thyroid gland

  • The superficial lymph nodes: Arrangement on both sides along the jugular vein (neck vein)
  • The deep lymph nodes: Arrangement on both sides along the arteria carotis communis (carotid artery)
  • The front lymph nodes: Placed centrally in front of larynx and thyroid gland

Larynx

The larynx is a cartilage-bone structure that represents the entrance from the throat into the trachea. The larynx itself consists of the thyroid cartilage (Cartilago thyroidea), which is visible and palpable from the outside as “Adam’s apple“. Underneath it is the cricoid cartilage (Cartilago cricoidea) and to the back the two cartilages (Cartilagines arytaenoideae).

When swallowing, the entrance to the larynx is closed by the epiglottis, so that no food can enter the oesophagus. Inside the larynx, the vocal cords are suspended and vibrate in response to air blasts, producing the sounds of the voice. Directly in front of the larynx lies the thyroid gland.