Middle layer of the deep cervical fascia
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
At the time the article was created Francis Deng had no recorded disclosures.
View Francis Deng's current disclosuresAt the time the article was last revised Craig Hacking had the following disclosures:
- Philips Australia, Paid speaker at Philips Spectral CT events (ongoing)
These were assessed during peer review and were determined to not be relevant to the changes that were made.
View Craig Hacking's current disclosures- Visceral fascia
- Strap muscle fascia
- Middle layer of deep cervical fascia (MLDCF)
- Pharyngomucosal fascia
- Pretracheal fascia
- Pretracheal layer of deep cervical fascia
The middle layer of the deep cervical fascia is the one of the three layers of the deep cervical fascia that most closely surrounds the visceral organs. This layer consists anteriorly of the strap muscle fascia (comprised of the sterno-omohyoid and sternothyroid-thyrohyoid layers) and posteriorly of the visceral fascia (also commonly known as the pharyngobasilar and buccopharyngeal fascia, particularly in the suprahyoid neck, or, less commonly, pharyngomucosal fascia) 1,2. The alternative term pretracheal fascia may refer to either the visceral fascia or the sternothyroid-thyrohyoid layer of strap muscle fascia, which lies anterior to the trachea 1,2.
Gross anatomy
Attachments
-
superiorly
-
anteriorly
-
inferiorly
adventitia of the aortic arch
Contents
-
visceral space and pharyngeal mucosal space
pharynx and pharyngeal constrictor muscles (superior, middle, and inferior pharyngeal constrictors)
cervical esophagus
thyroid gland* and parathyroid glands 3
visceral lymph nodes
*Some sources consider these structures to have their own fascia not derived from the middle layer of the deep cervical fascia, but they are nevertheless considered part of the visceral space 2.
In addition, all layers of the deep cervical fascia contribute to the carotid sheath. However, in the suprahyoid neck, above the carotid bifurcation, the contribution of the middle layer is inconsistent 3.
References
- 1. Guidera AK, Dawes PJ, Fong A, Stringer MD. Head and neck fascia and compartments: no space for spaces. (2014) Head & neck. 36 (7): 1058-68. doi:10.1002/hed.23442 - Pubmed
- 2. Peter M. Som, Hugh D. Curtin. Head and Neck Imaging - 2 Volume Set. (2011) ISBN: 9780323053556
- 3. Kamalian S, Avery L, Lev M, Schaefer P, Curtin H, Kamalian S. Nontraumatic Head and Neck Emergencies. (2019) RadioGraphics. 39 (6): 1808-1823. doi:10.1148/rg.2019190159 - Pubmed
Incoming Links
- Tensor-vascular-styloid fascia
- Alar fascia
- Deep spaces of the head and neck
- Buccopharyngeal fascia
- Thyroid gland
- Pharyngobasilar fascia
- Pharyngeal mucosal space
- Infrahyoid muscles
- Carotid space
- Retropharyngeal space
- Visceral space
- Cloison sagittale
- Fascia
- Deep cervical fascia
- Retropharyngeal lymph nodes
- Peritonsillar space
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cranial vault
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sutures
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- frontozygomatic suture
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facial bones
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orbicularis oris muscle
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deep spaces of the neck
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arterial supply
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common carotid artery
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common carotid artery
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arterial supply
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cranial nerves
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trigeminal nerve (CN V) (mnemonic)
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- mandibular division
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vestibulocochlear nerve (CN VIII)
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cervical plexus
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- scalenes
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ansa cervicalis
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- contribution to the accessory nerve (CN XI)
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