halsregion

Halsregion, or the neck region, is the anatomical area between the head and trunk. It extends from the base of the skull to the thoracic inlet and is bordered laterally by the skin and underlying neck muscles. The region contains the cervical portion of the spine, airway and digestive tract structures, major vessels, nerves, and lymphatic tissues, organized within fascial compartments.

The neck is classically described as divided into anterior and posterior triangles by the sternocleidomastoid muscle. Deep to the superficial fascia are the deep cervical fascia with investing, pretracheal, and prevertebral layers, which create spaces that segregate visceral, vascular, and vertebral components. This organization helps delineate functional and surgical relationships within the Halsregion.

Contents of the Halsregion include muscles such as the strap muscles and scalenes, the pharynx, larynx, trachea, esophagus, and the thyroid and parathyroid glands. Major vessels consist of the common carotid arteries and internal jugular veins within the carotid sheath, as well as the vertebral arteries. Nerves present include the vagus, accessory, hypoglossal, and branches of the cervical plexus, along with other autonomic fibers. Lymphatic structures range from regional cervical lymph nodes to deeper nodal groups.

Clinical relevance: the Halsregion is a common focus in trauma, infections, thyroid and parathyroid disease, and cancers with cervical metastasis. Knowledge of its fasciae, compartments, and surface landmarks is essential for airway management, diagnostic imaging (ultrasound, CT, MRI), and surgical approaches to the neck.