Head &amp; neck anatomy

Anterior scalene

First-rib elevator beside the brachial plexus

Arytenoid muscles (transverse and oblique)

Muscles linking the two arytenoid cartilages

Buccinator

Keeps the cheek close to the teeth

Cricothyroid

Changes vocal-fold length from outside the laryngeal cavity

Digastric

Two bellies linking the jaw and hyoid

Genioglossus

Fan-shaped muscle that advances the tongue

Hyoglossus

Hyoid-to-tongue muscle beside key oral structures

Intrinsic muscles of the tongue

Interwoven fibers for precise tongue shape

Lateral cricoarytenoid

Draws the vocal processes toward the midline

Lateral pterygoid

Advances the mandibular condyle

Levator veli palatini

Muscular sling that lifts the soft palate

Masseter

Powerful jaw-closing muscle

Medial pterygoid

Inner partner of the jaw-closing sling

Mylohyoid

Paired support beneath the tongue

Occipitofrontalis

Moves the scalp and lifts the brows

Omohyoid

Two-bellied connection from scapula to hyoid

Orbicularis oculi

Protective muscle for eyelid closure

Orbicularis oris

Shapes and seals the lips

Palatoglossus

Links the soft palate to the tongue

Pharyngeal constrictor muscles

Overlapping muscles that propel a swallowed bolus

Platysma

Thin sheet moving the superficial neck tissues

Posterior cricoarytenoid

The muscle that opens each vocal fold

Sternocleidomastoid

Surface landmark and head-turning muscle

Sternohyoid

Superficial strap that lowers the hyoid

Styloglossus

Draws the tongue backward and upward

Temporalis

Fan-shaped jaw elevator and retractor

Tensor veli palatini

Tenses the palate and helps open the auditory tube

Thyroarytenoid

Adjusts vocal-fold length, closure and stiffness

Vocalis

Specialized medial muscle within the vocal fold

Zygomaticus major

Raises the mouth corner during a smile

Bones

Ethmoid bone

Thin partitions between the nose, orbits and cranium

Frontal bone

Forehead, orbital roofs and anterior cranial floor

Hyoid bone

Suspended anchor for tongue and laryngeal movement

Mandible

Movable lower jaw

Maxilla

Upper-jaw framework for teeth, palate and orbit

Nasal bone

Paired bony bridge above the nasal cartilages

Nasal conchae

Bony shelves covered by vascular nasal mucosa

Occipital bone

Posterior skull base around the foramen magnum

Parietal bone

Curved plates protecting the upper and lateral brain

Sphenoid bone

Central skull-base bone with major nerve passages

Temporal bone

Skull-base housing for the ear and facial nerve

Zygomatic bone

Cheek prominence and outer orbital support

Cartilages

Arytenoid cartilage

Movable attachments at the back of the vocal folds

Corniculate and cuneiform cartilages

Elastic supports along the laryngeal entrance

Cricoid cartilage

The complete cartilage ring below the vocal folds

Epiglottis

Elastic cartilage contributing to airway protection

Thyroid cartilage

The largest supporting cartilage of the larynx

Nerves

Abducens nerve (CN VI)

Motor nerve that turns the eye outward

Accessory nerve (CN XI)

Motor supply for head turning and shoulder support

Ansa cervicalis

Cervical nerve loop supplying three strap muscles

Auriculotemporal nerve

V3 sensory pathway carrying fibers to the parotid

Cerebellar peduncles

Input and output bundles linking cerebellum and brainstem

Cervical plexus

Upper cervical network for neck sensation and movement

Chorda tympani

Facial nerve branch for anterior tongue taste and saliva

Ciliary ganglion

Orbital parasympathetic relay for pupil and lens control

Corticobulbar tract

Descending commands for head and neck movement

Facial nerve (CN VII)

One nerve serving expression, taste and secretion

Fornix

Hippocampal connections within the memory network

Glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX)

Sensory, secretory and swallowing pathways of CN IX

Greater occipital nerve

A posterior-ramus route to the occipital scalp

Greater petrosal nerve

Facial-nerve fibers for tears and mucous secretion

Hypoglossal nerve (CN XII)

The main cranial motor pathway to the tongue

Inferior alveolar nerve

A mandibular pathway that divides into dental and mental branches

Lesser petrosal nerve

The otic-ganglion route for parotid secretion

Lingual nerve

General tongue sensation with accompanying facial-nerve fibers

Mandibular nerve (V3)

Trigeminal sensation together with first-arch motor supply

Maxillary nerve (V2)

The trigeminal route through the pterygopalatine fossa

Medial longitudinal fasciculus

A link between eye and head movement pathways

Oculomotor nerve (CN III)

Motor and parasympathetic pathways to the eye

Olfactory nerve (CN I)

Receptor axons connecting the nose to the olfactory bulb

Ophthalmic nerve (V1)

Trigeminal sensation from the eye and upper face

Optic nerve (CN II)

Retinal output carried toward the brain

Otic ganglion

A parasympathetic station on the parotid pathway

Pterygopalatine ganglion

Parasympathetic output to tears and mucosal glands

Recurrent laryngeal nerve

Vagal motor and sensory supply returning to the larynx

Stellate (cervicothoracic) ganglion

A sympathetic ganglion at the neck–thorax junction

Submandibular ganglion

The facial-nerve relay for two major salivary glands

Superior cervical ganglion

A major sympathetic relay for the head

Superior laryngeal nerve

Two vagal branches with different laryngeal roles

Trigeminal ganglion

Sensory cell bodies for most trigeminal afferents

Trigeminal nerve (CN V)

Three sensory divisions with motor output through V3

Trochlear nerve (CN IV)

A crossed brainstem motor pathway to superior oblique

Vagus nerve (CN X)

Mixed cranial pathways extending into chest and abdomen

Vestibulocochlear nerve (CN VIII)

Auditory and vestibular connections with the brainstem

Vessels

Anterior cerebral artery

Medial hemispheric and deep perforator supply

Anterior communicating artery

Anterior cross-connection with important small perforators

Anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA)

Variable arterial supply around the lower lateral pons

Anterior spinal artery

Longitudinal supply reinforced at selected spinal levels

Basilar artery

The central trunk of vertebrobasilar circulation

Cavernous sinus

A parasellar venous network surrounding critical neurovascular structures

Circle of Willis

A variable arterial network with collateral potential

Common carotid artery

A paired conduit into internal and external carotid systems

Confluence of sinuses

A variable junction of posterior dural venous channels

External carotid artery

Branches for the face, scalp, neck and cranial dura

Facial artery

A flexible, variably branching supply to the face

Great cerebral vein (of Galen)

A short collecting trunk of deep cerebral drainage

Hypophyseal portal system

Vessels carrying hypothalamic signals to the anterior pituitary

Inferior thyroid artery

Thyrocervical branch with variable laryngeal nerve relations

Internal carotid artery

A major source of cerebral and orbital blood flow

Internal jugular vein

A principal outflow channel from the cranium and neck

Kiesselbach's plexus

A common bleeding site in the anterior nasal septum

Lenticulostriate arteries

Penetrating vessels with variable deep cerebral territories

Lymphatic drainage of the tongue

Overlapping routes with normal drainage to both sides

Middle cerebral artery

A major arterial tree for the lateral hemisphere

Middle meningeal artery

A skull-associated artery with extensive dural branches

Ophthalmic artery

Orbital circulation linked to both carotid systems

Posterior cerebral artery

Visual, medial temporal and deep posterior brain supply

Posterior communicating artery

An ICA–PCA connection that also supplies perforators

Posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA)

A variable route around medulla and cerebellar tonsil

Sigmoid sinus

The curved dural outflow toward the jugular bulb

Straight sinus

Deep cerebral venous drainage along the falx–tentorium junction

Superior and inferior petrosal sinuses

Different routes between parasellar and posterior venous drainage

Superior cerebellar artery (SCA)

Upper cerebellar supply beside the rostral brainstem

Superior cerebral (bridging) veins

Cortical drainage crossing into the superior sagittal system

Superior sagittal sinus

A major midline venous channel in the attached falx

Superior thyroid artery

Upper thyroid supply arising near the carotid bifurcation

Thyroid ima artery

Variable pretracheal artery supplying the lower thyroid

Transverse sinus

Lateral dural drainage along the tentorial attachment

Vertebral artery

Cervical arterial passage into the posterior cranial circulation

Organs

Abducens nucleus

Couples the two eyes during horizontal gaze

Amygdala

Links the significance of events to emotional responses

Arachnoid granulations

Arachnoid projections associated with CSF outflow

Arachnoid mater

Middle meningeal layer over the CSF-filled space

Broca's area

Frontal language region within a wider network

Caudate nucleus

Curved striatal nucleus beside the lateral ventricle

Cerebellum

Adjusts movement, balance and motor learning

Cerebrum

Cerebral hemispheres and their connected internal structures

Cervical lymph node levels

Anatomical regions used to describe cervical nodal disease

Choroid plexus

Ventricular secretory tissue forming the blood–CSF barrier

Corpus callosum

Communication between the cerebral hemispheres

Deep cervical lymph nodes

Major collecting nodes beside the internal jugular vein

Dentition

Primary and permanent teeth with different tooth classes

Dura mater

Fibrous support around the central nervous system

Facial motor nucleus

Pontine neurons that move the face

Frontal lobe

Planning actions and guiding behavior

Globus pallidus

Pallidal circuits help select and regulate movement

Hard palate

A rigid partition between mouth and nose

Hippocampus

Binding experiences into lasting memories

Hypoglossal nucleus

Medullary motor neurons for tongue movement

Hypothalamus

Coordinating internal state with behavior and hormones

Insula

Cortex concealed beneath the opercula

Internal capsule

A compact route between cortex and deeper structures

Jugulodigastric (tonsillar) node

Prominent upper jugular node receiving tonsillar lymph

Laryngopharynx

The pharyngeal passage beside and behind the larynx

Larynx

A movable airway valve that produces the voice

Mammillary bodies

Hypothalamic nodes in the episodic-memory circuit

Medulla oblongata

Brainstem junction with the spinal cord

Midbrain

Eye movement and motor circuits above the pons

Nasopharynx

Pharyngeal airway behind the nose

Nucleus ambiguus

Medullary output for swallowing, voice and cardiac control

Nucleus of the solitary tract

Medullary processing of taste and internal-body signals

Occipital lobe

Cerebral cortex specialized for vision

Oculomotor nucleus and Edinger-Westphal nucleus

Midbrain neurons controlling eye muscles and parasympathetic output

Optic chiasm

Partial crossing of the visual pathways

Oropharynx

The pharyngeal passage behind the oral cavity

Palatine tonsil

Crypt-bearing lymphoid tissue in the lateral oropharynx

Parietal lobe

Somatic sensation integrated with spatial and learned tasks

Pericervical lymph node ring

Regional nodal groups around the head-neck junction

Pharyngeal tonsil (adenoid)

Adenoid tissue in the roof of the nasopharynx

Pharynx

A muscular passage coordinating breathing and swallowing

Pia mater

The meningeal layer closely following neural surfaces

Pons

Pontocerebellar connections and cranial nerve circuits

Postcentral gyrus

The cortical representation of somatic sensation

Precentral gyrus

Cortical output for voluntary movement

Putamen

A striatal region involved in movement and learned behavior

Reticular formation

Interconnected brainstem networks for state and bodily control

Soft palate

A mobile valve between oral and nasal passages

Submandibular lymph nodes

Level Ib nodes surrounding the submandibular gland

Submental lymph nodes

Level Ia nodes on the mylohyoid beneath the chin

Substantia nigra

Dopaminergic modulation and inhibitory basal-ganglia output

Subthalamic nucleus

A glutamatergic node in basal-ganglia circuits

Temporal lobe

Auditory, memory and language-related networks

Thalamus

Reciprocal cortical connections for sensation, action and brain state

Tongue

Interlacing muscles for taste, food control and speech

Trigeminal nuclear complex

Sensory and motor nuclei distributed through the brainstem

Vestibular folds

Upper laryngeal folds with protective and vocal roles

Virchow's node

Left supraclavicular node associated with distant disease

Vocal folds

Layered tissue that vibrates and closes the glottis

Waldeyer's tonsillar ring

Discontinuous tonsillar tissue around the upper pharynx

Wernicke's area

A historical label within the language network

Glands

Adenohypophysis (anterior pituitary)

Glandular pituitary tissue controlled through portal blood

Inferior parathyroid gland

Calcium-regulating gland with a variable migration endpoint

Infundibulum (pituitary stalk)

Neural and vascular connection between hypothalamus and pituitary

Isthmus of the thyroid

Variable bridge of thyroid tissue across the upper trachea

Neurohypophysis (posterior pituitary)

Hypothalamic axons releasing vasopressin and oxytocin

Parotid gland

Serous salivary tissue around the facial nerve branches

Pineal gland

Epithalamic source of the nightly melatonin signal

Pituitary gland (hypophysis)

Sellar endocrine organ linking brain signals to hormone output

Pyramidal lobe of the thyroid

Optional superior extension of functioning thyroid tissue

Sublingual gland

Mucus-rich salivary secretion beneath the tongue

Submandibular gland

A salivary gland spanning both sides of mylohyoid

Superior parathyroid gland

Fourth-pouch endocrine gland usually behind the upper thyroid

Thyroid gland

Anterior neck follicles producing thyroid hormones

Joints

Joint

Cricoarytenoid joint

A moving joint beneath each arytenoid

Joint

Cricothyroid joint

Allows the thyroid and cricoid cartilages to change angle

Joint

Ligaments

Cricothyroid ligament

Elastic support beneath the vocal ligaments

Diaphragma sellae

Dura between the pituitary and suprasellar region

Falx cerebri

Dural partition in the longitudinal cerebral fissure

Quadrangular membrane

Fibroelastic support above the vocal folds

Tentorium cerebelli

A dural partition above the cerebellum

Spaces

Carotid sinus

An arterial stretch sensor for the baroreflex

Central sulcus

Landmark between the frontal and parietal lobes

Cerebral aqueduct

Midbrain channel connecting the third and fourth ventricles

Cisterna magna

Large CSF cistern behind the lower brainstem

Ethmoidal air cells

Small sinuses between the nasal cavity and orbit

Extradural (epidural) space

Different relationships in the skull and vertebral canal

Facial canal

The bony course of the facial nerve

Fourth ventricle

Where ventricular CSF reaches the subarachnoid space

Frontal sinus

Variable air spaces above the medial orbits

Lateral sulcus

The cleft containing the Sylvian cistern

Lateral ventricles

CSF cavities shaped around deep cerebral structures

Maxillary sinus

A large sinus between the orbit and upper teeth

Nasal cavity

Paired chambers for breathing and smell

Oral cavity

A food-processing chamber with an outer vestibule

Osteomeatal complex

Linked drainage pathways around the middle meatus

Piriform recess

A swallowing channel on either side of the larynx

Rima glottidis

The changing opening between the true vocal folds

Sphenoid sinus

A variable sinus close to the central skull base

Subarachnoid space

The CSF compartment between arachnoid and pia

Subdural space

A pathological cleavage plane near the dura–arachnoid interface

Third ventricle

The midline ventricular channel between diencephalic structures