THE SUPERFICIAL CERVICAL REGION 383 



of melancholy. In the pressure upon the bloodvessels of the neck induced by strong inspira- 

 tory effort, this muscle draws away the skin and fascia, and by so doing greatly diminishes 

 the pressure on the veins. 



The deep cervical fascia (fascia colli) (Fig. 299) lies under cover of the Platysma 

 muscle and constitutes a complete investment for the neck. It also forms a 

 sheath for the carotid vessels, and, in addition, is prolonged deeply in the shape 

 of certain processes or lamellae, which come into close relation with the structures 

 situated in front of the vertebral column. 



The investing portion of the fascia is attached, behind, to the ligamentum nuchae 

 and to the spine of the seventh cervical vertebra. It forms a thin investment 

 for the Trapezius muscle, at the anterior border of which it is continued forward 

 as a loose areolar layer, which covers the posterior triangle of the neck; thence 

 it passes to the posterior border of the .Sternomastoid, where it begins to assume 

 the appearance of a fascial membrane. Along the hinder edge of the Sternomastoid 

 the membrane divides to enclose this muscle, at the anterior edge of which it once 

 more forms a single lamella, which roofs in the anterior triangle of the neck, 

 and, reaching forward to the middle line, is continuous with the corresponding 

 part from the opposite side of the neck. In the middle line of the neck it is 

 attached to the symphysis menti and to the body of the hyoid bone. 



Above, the fascia is attached to the superior curved line of the occiput, to the 

 mastoid process of the temporal, and to the whole length of the body of the man- 

 dible. Opposite the angle of the mandible the fascia is very strong, and binds 

 the anterior edge of the Sternomastoid firmly to that bone. Between the mandible 

 and the mastoid process it ensheaths the parotid gland the layer which covers 

 the gland extending upward (parotid_fascia) to be fixed to the zygomatic arch. 

 The parotid fascia is prolonged forward to cover the Masseter muscle, the masse- 

 teric fascia. From the layer which passes under the parotid a strong band, the 

 stylomandibular ligament, reaches from the styloid process to the angle of the 

 mandible. Three other bands may be defined the sphenomandibular, the pterygo- 

 mandibular, and the pterygospinous ligaments. The pterygospinous ligament 

 stretches across from the upper half of the posterior free border of the external 

 pterygoid plate to the spinous process of the sphenoid. It occasionally ossifies, 

 producing an adventitious pterygospinous foramen, which transmits the branches 

 of the inferior maxillary division of the trigeminal nerve to the muscles of mastica- 

 tion. 



Below, the cervical fascia is attached to the acromion process, the clavicle, and 

 to the manubrium sterni. Some little distance above the last-named point, how- 

 ever, it splits into two layers, superficial and deep. The former is attached to 

 the anterior border of the manuKrium, the latte?*to its posterior border and to 

 the interclavicular ligament. Between these two layers is a slit-like interval, 

 the suprasternal space (spatium suprasternale). It contains a small quantity of 

 areolar tissue, sometimes a lymph node, the lower portions of the anterior jugular 

 veins and their transverse connecting branch, and also the sternal heads of the 

 Sternomastoid muscles. 



The fascia which covers the deep aspect of the Sternomastoid gives off certain 

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