title: Absence of Posterior Triangle: Clinical and Embryological Perspective.
abstract: Sternocleidomastoid (SCM) and Trapezius (TM) muscle present in the cervical region serves as an important landmark in forming boundaries of posterior triangle of neck. This case reports a continuous muscle sheet obscuring the left posterior triangle in the neck of a 60-year-old Indian male cadaver. An unfamiliar oval gap was observed in its posterosuperior portion. Description of such a variant in anatomical literature is rare and is scarcely reported. An attempt has been made to portray its embryological and phylogenetic basis. In addition authors have endeavoured to discuss its clinical implications. Awareness of such anatomical variations is relevant for the operating surgeons in their endeavour to perform various reconstruction surgeries of head and neck, radiologists while concluding various levels in Computed Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Images (MRI) of the region and to the anaesthetists in their search for nerves and vessels while attempting various anaesthetic procedures.
authors.affiliation: Senior Resident, Department of Anatomy, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital , New Delhi, India .
authors.forename: Shikha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Anatomy, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital , New Delhi, India .
authors.forename: Puja
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chauhan
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Anatomy, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital , New Delhi, India .
authors.forename: Hitendra Kumar
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Loh
authors.affiliation: Professor and Head, Department of Anatomy, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital , New Delhi, India .
authors.forename: Vandana
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mehta
authors.affiliation: Director and Professor, Department of Anatomy, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital , New Delhi, India .
authors.forename: Rajesh Kumar
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Suri
keywords: Fusion; Partial degeneration; Sternocleidomastoid; Trapezius