Neck Flashcards
Describe the superficial fascia of the neck (what kind of layer)
Subcutaneous layer of adipose connective tissue
What are the 4 contents of the superficial fascia of the neck?
1-Fat (of variable amount)
2-superficial lymph nodes
3-cutaneous nerves and vessels which supply the overlying skin
4-Platysma muscle
What are the fasciae within the deep cervical fascia?
Deep investing fascia
Visceral (pretracheal) Prevertebral
Alar
Carotid sheaths
Give a description of the deep investing fascia
Deep to superficial fascia
Wraps around the entire circumference of the neck like a fibrous collar
What are the contents of the deep investing fascia?
The entire neck and its viscera
Encloses separately the sternocleidomastoid and the trapezius
Where does the deep investing fascia attach superiorly?
superiorly: 1- inferior border of the mandible 2-body of hyoid 3-zygomatic arch 4-angle of mandible 5-mastoid process 6-styloid process
Where does the deep investing fascia attach inferiorly?
1-Manubrium of sternum 2-clavicles 3-spines of scapulae 4-sternocleidomastoid 5-trapezius
Where does the deep investing fascia attach posteriorly?
Ligamentum nuchae
What is important about the deep investing fascia’s attachment to the manubrium?
As it descends to the manubrium, the deep investing fascia divides into anterior and posterior sheets, creating the suprasternal space.
What does this suprasternal space contain?
1-areolar tissue 2-fat 3-lymph nodes 4-portions of inferior thyroid veins 5-portions of anterior jugular venous arch
Give a description of the visceral/pretracheal fascia.
Deep to deep investing fascia
Forms sheath around visceral unit of neck
What are the contents of the visceral unit of the neck?
- pharynx –> oesophagus at C6
- larynx –> trachea at C6
- thyroid gland
Where does the visercal fascia arise from superiorly?
1-hyoid bone
2-shared attachment with pharynx to base of skull
Where does the visceral fascia extend to inferiorly and what does it blend with?
-superior mediastinum
blends with pericardium of heart
What is the retropharyngeal space?
a fascial space behind the pharynx through which serous infections can spread down into the posterior mediastinum. (infections of the caused by impacted wisdom teeth)
Give a description of the prevertebral fascia.
Posterior to the visceral unit
Surrounds the vertebral unit
What are the contents of the prevertebral fascia?
The vertebral unit
What is contained within the vertebral unit?
- 7 cervical vertebrae
- cervical portion of spinal cord
- 8 paired spinal nerves
- anterior vertebral muscles (flex)
- posterior vertebral muscles (extend)
- extends laterally into axillary sheath