Brief Answer:
As detailed.

Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Thanks for your query and the photo.
To recapitulate: Female/34 - wants to know what the lump on the neck is - muscle or jugular vein - it is more like a muscle - but don't feel like - this is the same muscle that is prominent when you turn your head ...

After reading your history and looking at the photo my thoughts are as follows:
- The linear near-vertical lump, if you are talking about can be either external jugular vein or tightened platysma muscle.
From the appearance this looks more of a External Jugular vein, this is compressible and will vanish if the pressure causing it to enlarge is released.
Platsma can be tightened voluntarily and a part can be similarly seen but is not compressible and the moment the action is released, it will vanish.
- The muscles in this area are sternocleidomastoid and scaleni. can be taught on forceful movement to the opposite side on downward/bending against resistance.
- If in doubt, this can be confirmed by actual examination and by ultrasonography with color doppler examination.

I hope this answer helps to clear your doubts, please feel free to ask for further relevant queries if you feel that there is a gap of communication.

Also give feedback:
- Is the lump permanently present or is exhibited or particular movements or maneuvers?
- What is the consistency- soft, fluctuant, firm or hard?
- Does it disappear completely or remains a part of it permanently.
- Any other information that can helps me to assist you further if needed.

---

Brief Answer:
If no symptoms, not much to worry, get check up as explained

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your feedback.
When the jugular is bulged due to heart failure the condition of the patient is very critical. And I am sure you have no complaints of any nature.
Some of the reasons are:
It becomes prominent when one holds breath for whatsoever reason, talking in high pitch, singing and so on.
If it is due to obstruction of any nature, it will be permanently prominent. This can be diagnosed by clinical examination and CT scan of the neck and upper chest.

I hope this answer helps you.

---

Brief Answer:
As detailed below.

Detailed Answer:
Dizziness:
Please give details:
- Since when have got dizziness?
- True vertigo like your are rotating or the surrounds rotating / or just a feeling of dizziness like blackout or feeling that you may fall and so on?
- Any associated nausea/vomiting?
- Ringing in ears (tinnitus)?
- Headache?

Needs clinical evaluation by an ENT Surgeon and/or Neurologist, correlation with the tests to get a proper diagnosis and hence plan for proper treatment.
CT angiogram would find any vascular anomaly only.
Needs combo-study of MRI and CT with Vertigo protocol to find something.

I hope this answer helps you.

---

Brief Answer:
Get clinical evaluation and tests as discussed above.

Detailed Answer:
Because you are having dizziness since February, it is necessary to get evaluated the way I have explained above.

---

Brief Answer:
Yes, visit ER if if the vein is standing out even at rest.

Detailed Answer:
Do you have the vein popping out the way as seen in the photo?
If yes, please visit ER immediately and have the examination and further tests as we discussed above.

---

Brief Answer:
Appeared strained in the photo.

Detailed Answer:
The photo also shows that you have contracted the muscles and if you hold the breath, jugular can appear to be prominent.
See whether it is prominent without any straining.

---