Reflect the cutaneus colli muscle starting at its cranial extent and cutting the interwoven connections with the cleidomastoideus muscle. The jugular vein is found inside the jugular groove which is formed by the cleidomastoideus muscle (dorsal boundary) and the sternomandibular muscle (ventral boundary). Clean the fat from the jugular vein.
Technique tip: Use the scalpel and pincers. With the forceps in your left hand grasp some fatty tissue. Hold a scalpel with your right hand and rest the hand on the cleidomastoideus muscle. Apply short strokes to divide the fat tissue until you can see the jugular vein. Continue up and down the jugular vein while removing bits of fatty tissue..
Separate the pairs of the sternomandibular and sternothyrohyoideus muscles. The carotid sheaths are accessible on either side of the trachea. On the right side you find the common carotid artery, the recurrent laryngeal nerve (ventromedial) and the vagosympathetic trunk (dorsomedial). Also note that in the mid-cervical region the esophagus is to the left of the trachea. In the horse, the omohyoideus muscle provides an anatomical "barrier" between the jugular vein and the common carotid artery and forms the medial boundary of the jugular groove. This barrier provides an added margin of safety when administering intravenous medications into the jugular vein. In the ruminant the medial boundary of the jugular groove is formed by the sternomastoideus m..