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Information about Deep Cervical Fascia

Deep cervical fascia
Section of the neck at about the level of the sixth cervical vertebra. Showing the arrangement of the fascia coli.
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:

External links

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.
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General anatomy of neck (Throat • Pharynx • Larynx)
CartilagesCricoid • Thyroid (Adam's apple) • Epiglottis • Arytenoid • Cuneiform • Corniculate
LigamentsExtrinsic ligaments: Thyrohyoid membrane (Lateral thyrohyoid ligament, Median thyrohyoid ligament) • Hyoepiglottic ligament • Cricotracheal ligament Intrinsic ligaments: Cricothyroid ligament
Folds and related structuresFolds: (Glossoepiglottic, Aryepiglottic, Vocal, Vestibular) • Vocal ligament • Ventricle of the larynx • Infraglottic cavity • Vestibule of larynx • Rima glottidis • Glottis
Triangles of the neckAnterior of the neck (Muscular, Carotid, Submandibular, Submental) • Posterior of the neck (Occipital, Subclavian) • Suboccipital
FasciaDeep cervical fascia (Pretrachial fascia, Prevertebral fascia, Investing layer) • Carotid sheath
OtherRetropharyngeal space
Elsevier, the world's largest publisher of medical and scientific literature, forms part of the Reed Elsevier group. Based in Amsterdam, the company has substantial operations in the UK, USA and elsewhere.
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The platysma is a superficial muscle that overlaps the sternocleidomastoid.

It is a broad sheet arising from the fascia covering the upper parts of the Pectoralis major and Deltoideus; its fibers cross the clavicle, and proceed obliquely upward and medialward along the side of the
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In human anatomy, the common carotid artery is an artery that supplies the head and neck with oxygenated blood; it divides in the neck to form the external and internal carotid arteries.
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vertebral column (backbone or spine) is a column of 34 vertebrae, the sacrum, intervertebral discs, and the coccyx situated in the dorsal aspect of the torso, separated by spinal discs. It houses the spinal cord in its spinal canal.
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The investing portion of the fascia is attached behind to the ligamentum nuchæ and to the spinous process of the seventh cervical vertebra.

It forms a thin investment to the Trapezius, and at the anterior border of this muscle is continued forward as a rather loose areolar
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The Nuchal ligament is a fibrous membrane, which, in the neck, represents the supraspinal ligaments of the lower vertebræ.

It extends from the external occipital protuberance and median nuchal line to the spinous process of the seventh cervical vertebra.
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In vertebrates, cervical vertebrae (singular: vertebra) are those vertebrae immediately behind (caudal to) the skull.

Variation among species

In some species, some parts of the skull may be composed of vertebra-like elements, e.g.
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The nuchal lines are four curved lines on the external surface of the occipital bone:
  • The upper, often faintly marked, is named the highest nuchal line, and to it the galea aponeurotica is attached.

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The word occipital refers to several areas of the human body in the occiput, the rear of the skull:
  • Occipital bun
  • Occipital lobe
  • Occipital bone
  • Occipital scales
  • Occipital artery
  • Occipital vein
  • Lesser occipital nerve
  • Greater occipital nerve

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The mastoid process is a conical prominence projecting from the undersurface of the mastoid portion of the temporal bone. It is located just behind the external acoustic meatus, and lateral to the styloid process.
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Temporal can refer to:
  • of or relating to time
  • Temporal database, a database recording aspects of time varying values

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mandible (from Latin mandibūla, "jawbone") or inferior maxillary bone is, together with the maxilla, the largest and strongest bone of the face . It forms the lower jaw and holds the lower teeth in place.
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angle of the mandible, which may be either inverted or everted and is marked by rough, oblique ridges on each side, for the attachment of the Masseter laterally, and the Pterygoideus internus medially; the stylomandibular ligament is attached to the angle between these muscles.
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For the toad wart, see parotoid gland.

The parotid gland is the largest of the salivary glands. It is found wrapped around the mandibular ramus, and it secretes saliva through Stensen's duct into the oral cavity, to facilitate mastication and swallowing.
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The zygomatic arch is formed by the zygomatic process of temporal bone (a bone extending forward from the side of the skull, over the opening of the ear) and the temporal process of the zygomatic (the side of the cheekbone), the two being united by an oblique suture; the tendon of
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In anatomy, a styloid process (from Greek stylos, "pillar"), usually serving as points of attachment for muscles, refers to the slender, pointed process (protrusion) of :
  • temporal bone of the skull - Styloid process (temporal)

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The sphenomandibular ligament (internal lateral ligament) is a flat, thin band which is attached above to the spina angularis of the sphenoid bone, and, becoming broader as it descends, is fixed to the lingula of the mandibular foramen.
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The lateral pterygoid plate of the sphenoid (or lateral lamina of pterygoid process) is broad, thin, and everted; its lateral surface forms part of the medial wall of the infratemporal fossa, and gives attachment to the Pterygoideus externus; its medial surface forms part
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Mastication or chewing is the process by which food is mashed and crushed by teeth. It is the first step of digestion and it increases the surface area of foods to allow more efficient break down by enzymes.
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The acromion process, or simply the acromion, is an anatomical feature on the scapula.

In humans

It is a continuation of the scapular spine, and hooks over anteriorly.

The acromion articulates with the clavicle to form the acromioclavicular joint.
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Collarbone and collar bone redirect here. The eye abnormality is correctly spelled coloboma.
This article uses some professional terms to describe relative positions and directions.

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The manubrium (from Latin manubrĭum, "a handle") or manubrium sterni is the broad, upper part of the sternum. With a quadrangular shape, wider superiorly and narrower inferiorly, it articulates with the clavicles and the first two ribs.
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The anterior jugular vein begins near the hyoid bone by the confluence of several superficial veins from the submaxillary region.

It descends between the median line and the anterior border of the Sternocleidomastoideus, and, at the lower part of the neck, passes beneath
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Lymph nodes are components of the lymphatic system. They are sometimes informally called lymph glands but, as they do not secrete substances, such terminology is not entirely accurate. They are found mostly in the neck area.
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The omohyoid muscle is a muscle at the front of the neck that consists of two bellies separated by an intermediate tendon. It belongs to the group of infrahyoid muscles.

Structure


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The costal cartilages are bars of hyaline cartilage which serve to prolong the ribs forward and contribute very materially to the elasticity of the walls of the thorax.

Differences from 1-12


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The carotid sheath is an anatomical term for the fibrous connective tissue that surrounds the internal carotid artery and related structures in the neck.

Structure


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In human anatomy, the common carotid artery is an artery that supplies the head and neck with oxygenated blood; it divides in the neck to form the external and internal carotid arteries.
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The internal jugular vein collects the blood from the brain, from the superficial parts of the face, and from the neck.

Path

It is directly continuous with the sigmoid sinus, and begins in the posterior compartment of the jugular foramen, at the base of the skull.
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The vagus nerve (also called pneumogastric nerve or cranial nerve X) is the tenth of twelve paired cranial nerves, and is the only nerve that starts in the brainstem (within the medulla oblongata) and extends, through the jugular foramen, down below the head, to the
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