Head and Neck Anatomy Learning Guide
THE HEAD AND NECK
The head and neck region is an amalgam of components of all of the systems of the body. It is a relatively small region in relation to the amount of time given over to it in any anatomy course but that is largely due to the fact the structures within the region are small.
The basic principles which have helped you to appreciate the anatomy of the other regions of the body apply equally to the head and neck (eg, muscles which cross a joint will act on that joint, etc).
There is, however, no one clear way in which the different components of the head and neck can be broken down into small easily understood units and then put together to provide an understanding of the whole. Perhaps in this region of the body you need to spend proportionately more time fitting the small units into the whole. A good understanding of the main parts of the skull will help you here as no structure in the head and neck that is far away from the skull or cervical vertebrae.
Remember that the head and neck region is connected to other regions. Internally there is the brain which we will consider in separate classes. Inferiorly there is the thorax and laterally the upper limbs. Be sure that when you study the structure of the head and neck that you continue your understanding into those related areas ie do not leave structures “dangling” at the margins of the head and neck.
Head and Neck week 1
Workstation summary
Class 1- Wet room
Board number
Station code
Summary of content
1
HN1.T1
General outline of head and neck
2
HN1.T2
Scalp
3
HN1.T3
Face (including parotid salivary gland)
4
HN1.T4
Neck triangles
5
HN1.T5
Facial and trigeminal nerves
6
HN1.T6
Connections of the neck
Class 2 - Dry room
Board number
Station code
Summary of content
1
HN1.H1
Basic histology of salivary glands
2
HN1.B1
Bones of the skull
3
HN1.B2
Cervical vertebrae
4
HN1.R1
Radiology of the skull
5
HN1.S1
Surface Anatomy of
The head and neck region is an amalgam of components of all of the systems of the body. It is a relatively small region in relation to the amount of time given over to it in any anatomy course but that is largely due to the fact the structures within the region are small.
The basic principles which have helped you to appreciate the anatomy of the other regions of the body apply equally to the head and neck (eg, muscles which cross a joint will act on that joint, etc).
There is, however, no one clear way in which the different components of the head and neck can be broken down into small easily understood units and then put together to provide an understanding of the whole. Perhaps in this region of the body you need to spend proportionately more time fitting the small units into the whole. A good understanding of the main parts of the skull will help you here as no structure in the head and neck that is far away from the skull or cervical vertebrae.
Remember that the head and neck region is connected to other regions. Internally there is the brain which we will consider in separate classes. Inferiorly there is the thorax and laterally the upper limbs. Be sure that when you study the structure of the head and neck that you continue your understanding into those related areas ie do not leave structures “dangling” at the margins of the head and neck.
Head and Neck week 1
Workstation summary
Class 1- Wet room
Board number
Station code
Summary of content
1
HN1.T1
General outline of head and neck
2
HN1.T2
Scalp
3
HN1.T3
Face (including parotid salivary gland)
4
HN1.T4
Neck triangles
5
HN1.T5
Facial and trigeminal nerves
6
HN1.T6
Connections of the neck
Class 2 - Dry room
Board number
Station code
Summary of content
1
HN1.H1
Basic histology of salivary glands
2
HN1.B1
Bones of the skull
3
HN1.B2
Cervical vertebrae
4
HN1.R1
Radiology of the skull
5
HN1.S1
Surface Anatomy of