Deep cervical fascia
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| Deep cervical fascia | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Section of the neck at about the level of the sixth cervical vertebra. Showing the arrangement of the fascia coli. | |
| Gray's | subject #111 388 |
| Dorlands/Elsevier | l_05/12480348 |
The deep cervical fascia (or fascia colli in older texts) lies under cover of the Platysma, and invests the neck; it also forms sheaths for the carotid vessels, and for the structures situated in front of the vertebral column.
The investing portion of the fascia is attached behind to the ligamentum nuchæ and to the spinous process of the seventh cervical vertebra.
Above
Above, the fascia is attached to the superior nuchal line of the occipital, to the mastoid process of the temporal, and to the whole length of the inferior border of the body of the mandible.
Opposite the angle of the mandible the fascia is very strong, and binds the anterior edge of the Sternocleidomastoideus firmly to that bone.
Between the mandible and the mastoid process it ensheathes the parotid gland—the layer which covers the gland extends upward under the name of the parotideomasseteric fascia and is fixed to the zygomatic arch.
From the part which passes under the parotid gland a strong band extends upward to the styloid process, forming the stylomandibular ligament.
Two other bands may be defined: the sphenomandibular and the pterygospinous ligaments.
The pterygospinous ligament stretches from the upper part of the posterior border of the lateral pterygoid plate to the spinous process of the sphenoid.
It occasionally ossifies, and in such cases, between its upper border and the base of the skull, a foramen is formed which transmits the branches of the mandibular nerve to the muscles of mastication.
Below
Below, the fascia is attached to the acromion, the clavicle, and the manubrium sterni.
Some little distance above the last it splits into two layers, superficial and deep.
The former is attached to the anterior border of the manubrium, the latter to its posterior border and to the interclavicular ligament.
Between these two layers is a slit-like interval, the suprasternal space (space of Burns); it contains a small quantity of areolar tissue, the lower portions of the anterior jugular veins and their transverse connecting branch, the sternal heads of the Sternocleidomastoidei, and sometimes a lymph gland.
Processes
The fascia which lines the deep surface of the Sternocleidomastoideus gives off the following processes:
- A process envelops the tendon at the Omohyoideus, and binds it down to the sternum and first costal cartilage.
- A strong sheath, the carotid sheath, encloses the carotid artery, internal jugular vein, and vagus nerve.
- The prevertebral fascia extends medialward behind the carotid vessels, where it assists in forming their sheath, and passes in front of the prevertebral muscles.
- The pretrachial fascia extends medially in front of the carotid vessels, and assists in forming the carotid sheath.
External links
- Sagittal Section Showing Deep Cervical Fascial Layers
- Infrahyoid Cross-Section Showing Layers of Deep Cervical Fascia
- Suprahyoid Cross-Section Showing Layers of Deep Cervical Fascia
This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained herein may be outdated. Please edit the article if this is the case, and feel free to remove this notice when it is no longer relevant.
General anatomy of neck (Throat • Pharynx • Larynx) | |
|---|---|
| Cartilages | Cricoid • Thyroid (Laryngeal prominence) • Epiglottis • Arytenoid • Cuneiform • Corniculate |
| Ligaments | extrinsic ligaments: Thyrohyoid membrane (Lateral thyrohyoid ligament, Median thyrohyoid ligament) • Hyoepiglottic ligament • Cricotracheal ligament intrinsic ligaments: Cricothyroid ligament |
| Folds and related structures | folds: (Glossoepiglottic, Aryepiglottic, Vocal, Vestibular) Vocal ligament • Ventricle of the larynx • Infraglottic cavity • Vestibule of larynx • Rima glottidis • Glottis |
| Triangles of the neck | Anterior of the neck (Muscular, Carotid, Submandibular, Submental)
Posterior of the neck (Occipital, Subclavian) Suboccipital |
| Fascia | Deep cervical fascia (Pretrachial fascia, Prevertebral fascia, Investing layer) • Carotid sheath • Buccopharyngeal fascia |
| Other | Retropharyngeal space |
Acknowledgement and Attribution Regarding Sources of Content
Some of the initial content on this page may be incorporated in part from copyleft sources in the public domain including wikis such as Wikipedia and AskDrWiki. Drug information for patients came from the The National Library of Medicine. Infectious disease information may have come from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Differential Diagnoses are drawn from clinicians as well as an amalgamation of 3 sources: 1.The Disease Database; 2. Kahan, Scott, Smith, Ellen G. In A Page: Signs and Symptoms. Malden, Massachusetts: Blackwell Publishing, 2004:3; 3. Sailer, Christian, Wasner, Susanne. Differential Diagnosis Pocket. Hermosa Beach, CA: Borm Bruckmeir Publishing LLC, 2002:7 .
