An imager's guide to normal neck anatomy

Neck anatomy is quite complex and presents a daily challenge to the head and neck radiologist. The goal of this article is to help the practicing radiologist understand the basic anatomy of the neck. The major emphasis of this article is on the neck spaces as delimited by the various layers of the deep conical fascia. A discussion of neck surface anatomy is also included followed by a description of the major blood vessels, nerves, and lymphatics within the extracranial head and neck. The technical aspects of neck imaging are briefly mentioned, and normal CT and MRI images of the neck are provided. Finally, a few normal variants are illustrated.