Cervical Fascia Flashcards
Enclose, separate bundles of structures in the neck
* Provides “slipperiness” to allow structures to glide
over each other
* Determine spread of fluid (infection)
* Can be utilized during surgery
Deep Cervical Fascia
INVESTING LAYER
* Surrounds trapezius, SCM
* Surrounds parotid, submandibular glands
Deep Cervical Fascia
PRETRACHEAL LAYER
Muscular layer
* Surrounds infrahyoid muscles
Visceral layer
* Surrounds thyroid, trachea, esophagus
* Anchored to hyoid, blends with heart pericardium
* Continuous posteriorly/superiorly as buccopharyngeal
fascia
Deep Cervical Fascia
PREVERTEBRAL LAYER
* Encloses cervical spine muscles
* Anchored to skull base superiorly & fuses to anterior
longitudinal ligament in thorax inferiorly
* Extends laterally as axillary sheath (containing brachial
plexus, axillary A/V)
Deep Cervical Fascia
CAROTID SHEATHS
* Contain:
o Common carotid A (Internal carotid A)
o Internal jugular V
o Vagus N
oNerves to carotid body/sinus (CN IX)
oLymphatics
* Continuous with mediastinum (in thorax)
Retropharyngeal Space
- Between buccopharyngeal fascia and alar fascia
- Allows movement of pharynx, larynx and esophagus while
swallowing - Runs from skull base to mediastinum, closed laterally by deep cervical fascia (open in head)
- Buccopharyngeal fascia and alar fascia fuse inferiorly T1 – T4, spread of infection in mediastinum is somewhat limited
Retropharyngeal Abscess
WHAT IS IT? Swelling in the retropharyngeal space due to spread of upper respiratory or oral infections
SYMPTOMS? May cause difficulty swallowing, breathing, and may be life-threatening
TREATMENT? Intravenous antibiotics, intubation, and/or surgical incision (transorally) for abscess drainage
Danger Zone
Between alar fascia and prevertebral fascia
* Runs from skull base to mediastinum, closed laterally by carotid sheaths (open in head)
* Major pathway for spread of infection into mediastinum (often from dental abscess)
