248 



FASCIA OF THE TRUNK. 



Fig. 97* 



jaw, forming the stylo-maxillary ligament; and if it be followed 



downwards, it will be found con- 

 nected with the tendon of the omo- 

 hyoid muscle, and may thence be 

 traced behind the clavicle where 

 it encloses the subclavius muscle, 

 and being extended from the car- 

 tilage of the first rib to the cora- 

 coid process, constitutes the costo- 

 coracoid membrane. In front of 

 "the sterno-mastoid muscle, the deep 

 fascia is attached to the border of 

 the lower jaw and os hyoides, and 

 forms a distinct sheath for the sub- 

 maxillary gland. Inferiorly it di- 

 vides into two layers, one of which 

 passes in front of the sternum, while 

 the other is attached to its superior 

 border. 



FASCIJE OF THE TRUNK. 



The thoracic fascia] is a dense layer of cellule-fibrous membrane 

 stretched horizontally across the superior opening of the thorax. It 

 is firmly attached to the concave margin of the first rib, and to the 

 inner surface of the sternum. In front it leaves an opening for the 

 connexion of the cervical with the thoracic portion of the thymus 

 gland, and behind it forms an arch across the vertebral column, to 

 give passage to the resophagus. 



At the point where the great vessels and trachea pass through the 

 thoracic fascia, it divides into an ascending and descending layer. 

 The ascending layer is attached to the trachea, and becomes con- 

 tinuous with the sheath of the carotid vessels, and with the deep 

 cervical fascia ; the descending layer descends upon the trachea to 



* A transverse section of the neck, showing the deep cervical fascia and its numerous 

 prolongations, forming sheaths for the different muscles. As the figure is symmetri- 

 cal, the figures of reference are placed only on one side. 1. The platysma myoides. 

 2. The trapczius. 3. The ligamentum nuchae, from which the fascia may be traced 

 forwards beneath the trapezius, enclosing the other muscles of the neck. 4. The point 

 at which the fascia divides, to form a sheath for the sterno-mastoid muscle. G. The 

 point of reunion of the two layers of the sterno-mastoid sheath. 7. The point of union 

 of the deep cervical fascia of opposite sides of the neck. 8. Section of the sterno-hyoid. 

 9. Omo-hyoid. 10. Sterno-thyroid. 11. The lateral lobe of the thyroid gland. 12. 

 The trachea. 13. The resophagus. 14. The sheath containing the common carotid 

 artery, internal jugular vein, and pneumogastric nerve. 15. The longus colli. The 

 nerve in front of the sheath of this muscle is the sympathetic. 16. The rectus anticus 

 major. 17. Scalenus anticus. 18. Scalenus posticus. 19. The splenius capitis. 20. 

 Splenius colli. 21. Levator anguli scapulae. 22. Complexus. 23. Trachelo-mastoid. 

 24. Transversalis colli. 25. Cervicalis ascendens. 26. The semi-spinalis colli. 27. 

 ,Thc multifidus spinse. 28. A cervical vertebra. The transverse processes are seen to 

 be traversed by the vertebral artery and vein. 



t For an excellent description of this fascia, see Sir Astley Cooper's work on the 

 "Anatomy of the Thymus Gland." 



