superior carotid/Malgaigne triangle, (Gerdy hyoid/Malgaigne fossa)

Introduction

The space bounded by the superior belly of the omohyoid muscles, anterior border of the sternocleidomastoid & posterior belly of the digastric.

Main contents:

• Carotid sheath containing common carotid artery & its branches
• internal jugular vein & its tributaries
• external carotid artery & some of its branches
• hypoglossal nerve
• superior root of ansa cervicalis
• accessory nerve
• thyroid, larynx & pharynx
• deep cervical lymph nodes
• branches of cervical plexus.

More general terms

• anatomic structure
• fossa

Component of

• posterior triangle of neck (lateral region)