Sternocephalic region
Regio sternocephalica
Definition
The sternocephalic region corresponds to the area of the neck located along the course of the sternocephalic muscle, which connects the sternal manubrium to the head. This region occupies the ventrolateral part of the neck.
This region is a major anatomical landmark:
It forms the border of the jugular groove, an anatomical space located between the sternocephalic and the brachiocephalic muscle. This groove contains the external jugular vein.
It outlines the lateral aspect of the tracheal region, inserting medially on the sternal manubrium and partially covering several structures, including the trachea, the thyroid and parathyroid glands, and the cervical portion of the esophagus.
It partially covers neurovascular structures, such as the cervical plexus (common carotid artery, vagus nerve, cervical sympathetic trunk) and the recurrent laryngeal nerves running along the trachea.
References
Dyce KM, Sack WO, Wensing CJG. Textbook of Veterinary Anatomy. 5th ed. St. Louis: Elsevier; 2017.
König HE, Liebich HG, editors. Veterinary Anatomy of Domestic Mammals: Textbook and Colour Atlas. 6th ed. Stuttgart: Thieme; 2020.
Evans HE, de Lahunta A. Miller’s Anatomy of the Dog. 4th ed. St. Louis: Elsevier; 2013.
