11 Fascial Planes of the Neck

Question 1

Name the rough layers of the neck

Answer 1

skin
subcutaneous fat / superficial fascia
platysma muscle (anteiorly)
deep cervical fascia

Question 2

Name the deep cervical fascia

Answer 2

investing fascia
pretracheal fascia
prevertbral fascia
carotid sheaths (alar fascia)

Question 3

What does the investing layer of deep fascia contain?

Answer 3

platysma
trapezius
SCM
submandibular gland

Question 4

What does the pretracheal fascia contain?

Answer 4

infrahyoid muscle
trachea
oesophagus
thyroid gland

Question 5

What thoracic structure if the pretracheal fascia continuous with?

Answer 5

pericardium

Question 6

What does the prevertebral fascia contain?

Answer 6

vertebral column

muscles of the paravertebral region

Question 7

What does the prevertebral fascia attach to superiorly?

Answer 7

cranial base

Question 8

What does the prevertbral fascia attach to inferiorly?

Answer 8

endothoracic fascia

Question 9

What is the axillary sheath?

Answer 9

a continuation of the prevertebral fascia

Question 10

Where does the carotid sheath extend to and from?

Answer 10

cranial base to 1st rib and sternum

Question 11

What are the 4 different space types in the head and neck?

Answer 11

fascial spaces of teh face
suprahyoid fascial spaces
infrahyoid fascial spaces
fascial spaces of the neck

Question 12

How many spaces are there int he head and neck in total?

Answer 12

16

Question 13

How many fascial spaces of the face are there?

Answer 13

5

Question 14

How many suprahyoid fascial spaces are there?

Answer 14

5

Question 15

How many infrahyoid fascial spaces are there?

Answer 15

1

Question 16

How many fascial spaces of the neck are there?

Answer 16

5

Question 17

What joins the carotid sheaths?

Answer 17

alar fascia

Question 18

What 2 spaces does the alar fascia create?

Answer 18

between muscular layer and alar fascia

between visceral layer and alar fascia

Question 19

Where is the prevertebral space?

Answer 19

between the prevertebral fascia and the anterior surface of the vertebral bodies of the cervical spine

Question 20

Where is the retropharyngeal space?

Answer 20

between alar fascia and pretracheal fascia

Question 21

Where is the danger space?

Answer 21

between teh alar fascia and the muscular compartment fascia

Question 22

Name 3 potential spaces of the neck

Answer 22

prevertebral space
retropharyngeal space
danger space

Question 23

Where might infection between investing and pretracheal fascia spread to?

Answer 23

thoracic cavity

Question 24

Where might an abscess posterior to the prevertebral layer extend?

Answer 24

laterally to SCm

Question 25

Where might a retorpharyngeal abscess spread?

Answer 25

superior mediastinum