Emergency Medical Minute

Contributor: Ricky Dhaliwal MD Educational Pearls: Three zones of the neck with different structures and risks for injuries: Zone 1 is the most caudal region from the clavicle to the cricoid cartilage Zone 2 is from the cricoid cartilage to the angle of the mandible Zone 3 is superior to the angle of the mandible Zone 1 contains the thoracic outlet vasculature (subclavian arteries and veins, internal jugular veins), carotid arteries, vertebral artery, apices of the lungs, trachea, esophagus, spinal cord, thoracic duct, thyroid gland, jugular veins, and the vagus nerve.  Zone 2 contains the common carotid arteries, internal and external branches of carotid arteries, vertebral arteries, jugular veins, trachea, esophagus, larynx, pharynx, spinal cord, and vagus and recurrent laryngeal nerves Lower risk than Zone 1 or Zone 3 Zone 3 contains the distal carotid arteries, vertebral arteries, jugular veins, pharynx, spinal cord, cranial nerves IX, X, XI, XII, the sympathetic chain, and the salivar