Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Deng F, Tensor-vascular-styloid fascia. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 23 Jan 2025) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-72235
The tensor-vascular-styloid fascia is a part of the middle layer of the deep cervical fascia that has been suggested to divide the prestyloid and poststyloid compartments of the parapharyngeal space. It is an extension of, and previously sometimes referred to as, the tensor veli palatini fascia 1-3.
Radiographic features
Although invisible on imaging, the location of the tensor-vascular-styloid fascia can be inferred by drawing a straight line from the styloid process to the tensor veli palatini muscle 4 or to the medial pterygoid plate 5. The internal carotid artery and internal jugular vein are located posteromedial to this line. Displacement of these structures helps localize a lesion to the prestyloid versus poststyloid parapharyngeal space.
See also
A competing suggestion has arisen that the fascia that divides the prestyloid and poststyloid spaces is actually derived from the fascia of the stylopharyngeus, styloglossus, and/or levator veli palatini muscles 6-8.
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1. Curtin HD. Separation of the masticator space from the parapharyngeal space. (1987) Radiology. 163 (1): 195-204. doi:10.1148/radiology.163.1.3823435 - Pubmed
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2. Shin JH, Lee HK, Kim SY, Choi CG, Suh DC. Imaging of parapharyngeal space lesions: focus on the prestyloid compartment. (2001) AJR. American journal of roentgenology. 177 (6): 1465-70. doi:10.2214/ajr.177.6.1771465 - Pubmed
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3. Maheshwar AA, Kim EY, Pensak ML, Keller JT. Roof of the parapharyngeal space: defining its boundaries and clinical implications. (2004) The Annals of otology, rhinology, and laryngology. 113 (4): 283-8. doi:10.1177/000348940411300405 - Pubmed
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4. Liu XW, Wang L, Li H, Zhang R, Geng ZJ, Wang DL, Xie CM. A modified method for locating parapharyngeal space neoplasms on magnetic resonance images: implications for differential diagnosis. (2014) Chinese journal of cancer. 33 (10): 511-20. doi:10.5732/cjc.014.10017 - Pubmed
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5. Kamalian S, Avery L, Lev MH, Schaefer PW, Curtin HD, Kamalian S. Nontraumatic Head and Neck Emergencies. (2019) Radiographics : a review publication of the Radiological Society of North America, Inc. 39 (6): 1808-1823. doi:10.1148/rg.2019190159 - Pubmed
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6. Katori Y, Kawase T, Cho KH, Abe H, Rodríguez-Vázquez JF, Murakami G, Abe S. Prestyloid compartment of the parapharyngeal space: a histological study using late-stage human fetuses. (2012) Surgical and radiologic anatomy : SRA. 34 (10): 909-20. doi:10.1007/s00276-012-0975-2 - Pubmed
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7. Katori Y, Kawase T, Ho Cho K, Abe H, Rodríguez-Vázquez JF, Murakami G, Fujimiya M. Suprahyoid neck fascial configuration, especially in the posterior compartment of the parapharyngeal space: a histological study using late-stage human fetuses. (2013) Clinical anatomy (New York, N.Y.). 26 (2): 204-12. doi:10.1002/ca.22088 - Pubmed
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8. 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
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