Prevertebral fascia
Encyclopedia
The prevertebral fascia (or prevertebral layer of cervical fascia) is a fascia
in the neck
.
and enclosing all muscles laterally and posteriorly to it. However, in this article, it is assumed to be as marked in picture.
.
The prevertebral fascia is fixed above to the base of the skull
, and below it extends behind the esophagus into the posterior mediastinal cavity of the thorax
. It descends in front of the longus colli muscles.
The prevertebral fascia is prolonged downward and laterally behind the carotid vessels and in front of the scaleni, and forms a sheath for the brachial nerves and subclavian vessels in the posterior triangle of the neck; it is continued under the clavicle as the axillary sheath and is attached to the deep surface of the coracoclavicular fascia.
and trachea
, the thyroid gland, and the pharynx
and esophagus
.
Parallel to the carotid sheath and along its medial aspect the prevertebral fascia gives off a thin lamina, the buccopharyngeal fascia
, which closely invests the constrictor muscles of the pharynx, and is continued forward from the constrictor pharyngis superior on to the buccinator
. This is attached to the prevertebral layer by loose connective tissue only, and thus an easily distended space, the retropharyngeal space
, is found between them.
Immediately above and behind the clavicle an areolar space exists between the investing layer and the sheath of the subclavian vessels, and in this space are found the lower part of the external jugular vein, the descending clavicular nerves, the transverse scapular and transverse cervical vessels, and the inferior belly of the Omohyoideus muscle.
This space is limited below by the fusion of the coracoclavicular fascia with the anterior wall of the axillary sheath
.
Inferiorly, the prevertebral layer blends with the endothoracic fascia
peripherally and fuses with the anterior longitudinal ligament
centrally at approximately the level of the T3 vertebra. It extends laterally as the axillary sheath
.
Fascia
A fascia is a layer of fibrous tissue that permeates the human body. A fascia is a connective tissue that surrounds muscles, groups of muscles, blood vessels, and nerves, binding those structures together in much the same manner as plastic wrap can be used to hold the contents of sandwiches...
in the neck
Neck
The neck is the part of the body, on many terrestrial or secondarily aquatic vertebrates, that distinguishes the head from the torso or trunk. The adjective signifying "of the neck" is cervical .-Boner anatomy: The cervical spine:The cervical portion of the human spine comprises seven boney...
.
Variations
In some literature, the prevertebral fascia also includes the rest of the fascia extending around the vertebral columnVertebral column
In human anatomy, the vertebral column is a column usually consisting of 24 articulating vertebrae, and 9 fused vertebrae in the sacrum and the coccyx. It is situated in the dorsal aspect of the torso, separated by intervertebral discs...
and enclosing all muscles laterally and posteriorly to it. However, in this article, it is assumed to be as marked in picture.
Location
The prevertebral fascia extends medially behind the carotid vessels, where it assists in forming their sheath, and passes in front of the prevertebral musclesPrevertebral muscles
The prevertebral muscles are the muscles located between the prevertebral fascia and the vertebral column, i.e., the longus capitis and longus colli muscles.It also includes the recti capitis anterior and lateralis....
.
The prevertebral fascia is fixed above to the base of the skull
Base of the skull
The base of skull is the most inferior area of the skull, composed of the endocranium and lower parts of the skull roof.-Bones:*Ethmoid bone*Sphenoid bone*Occipital bone*Frontal bone*Parietal bone*Temporal bone**Petrous portion of the temporal bone...
, and below it extends behind the esophagus into the posterior mediastinal cavity of the thorax
Thorax
The thorax is a division of an animal's body that lies between the head and the abdomen.-In tetrapods:...
. It descends in front of the longus colli muscles.
The prevertebral fascia is prolonged downward and laterally behind the carotid vessels and in front of the scaleni, and forms a sheath for the brachial nerves and subclavian vessels in the posterior triangle of the neck; it is continued under the clavicle as the axillary sheath and is attached to the deep surface of the coracoclavicular fascia.
Surrounding structures
It forms the posterior limit of a fibrous compartment, which contains the larynxLarynx
The larynx , commonly called the voice box, is an organ in the neck of amphibians, reptiles and mammals involved in breathing, sound production, and protecting the trachea against food aspiration. It manipulates pitch and volume...
and trachea
Vertebrate trachea
In tetrapod anatomy the trachea, or windpipe, is a tube that connects the pharynx or larynx to the lungs, allowing the passage of air. It is lined with pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium cells with goblet cells that produce mucus...
, the thyroid gland, and the pharynx
Pharynx
The human pharynx is the part of the throat situated immediately posterior to the mouth and nasal cavity, and anterior to the esophagus and larynx. The human pharynx is conventionally divided into three sections: the nasopharynx , the oropharynx , and the laryngopharynx...
and esophagus
Esophagus
The esophagus is an organ in vertebrates which consists of a muscular tube through which food passes from the pharynx to the stomach. During swallowing, food passes from the mouth through the pharynx into the esophagus and travels via peristalsis to the stomach...
.
Parallel to the carotid sheath and along its medial aspect the prevertebral fascia gives off a thin lamina, the buccopharyngeal fascia
Buccopharyngeal fascia
Parallel to the carotid sheath and along its medial aspect the prevertebral fascia gives off a thin lamina, the buccopharyngeal fascia, which closely invests the constrictor muscles of the pharynx and is continued forward from the constrictor pharyngis superior onto the buccinator.It is attached to...
, which closely invests the constrictor muscles of the pharynx, and is continued forward from the constrictor pharyngis superior on to the buccinator
Buccinator
The buccinator muscle is a muscle at the side of the face.Buccinator may also refer to:* Buccinator artery * Buccinator lymph node* Buccinator nerve * An ancient Roman buccina player...
. This is attached to the prevertebral layer by loose connective tissue only, and thus an easily distended space, the retropharyngeal space
Retropharyngeal space
The retropharyngeal space is a space bounded by the buccopharyngeal fascia anteriorly and the alar fascia posteriorly.It includes the retropharyngeal lymph nodes....
, is found between them.
Immediately above and behind the clavicle an areolar space exists between the investing layer and the sheath of the subclavian vessels, and in this space are found the lower part of the external jugular vein, the descending clavicular nerves, the transverse scapular and transverse cervical vessels, and the inferior belly of the Omohyoideus muscle.
This space is limited below by the fusion of the coracoclavicular fascia with the anterior wall of the axillary sheath
Axillary sheath
The first portion of the axillary artery is enclosed, together with the axillary vein and the brachial plexus, in a fibrous sheath—the axillary sheath—continuous above with the deep cervical fascia....
.
Inferiorly, the prevertebral layer blends with the endothoracic fascia
Endothoracic fascia
Endothoracic fascia is the layer of loose connective tissue deep to the intercostal spaces and ribs, separating these structures from the underlying pleura. This fascial layer is the outermost membrane of the thoracic cavity. The endothoracic fascia contains variable amounts of fat....
peripherally and fuses with the anterior longitudinal ligament
Anterior longitudinal ligament
The anterior longitudinal ligament is a ligament that runs down the anterior surface of the spine. It traverses all of the vertebral bodies and intervertebral discs....
centrally at approximately the level of the T3 vertebra. It extends laterally as the axillary sheath
Axillary sheath
The first portion of the axillary artery is enclosed, together with the axillary vein and the brachial plexus, in a fibrous sheath—the axillary sheath—continuous above with the deep cervical fascia....
.