316 



THE MUSCLES AND FASCIA. 



the larynx and trachea, the thyroid gland, and the pharynx and oesophagus. The 

 prevertebral fascia is fixed above to the base of the skull, while below it is con- 

 tinued into the thorax in front of the Longus colli muscles. Parallel to the carotid 

 vessels and along their inner aspect it gives off a thin lamina, the bucco-pliaryn- 

 yeal fascia, which closely invests the constrictor muscles of the pharynx, and is 

 continued forward from the Superior constrictor on to the Buccinator. It is 

 attached to the prevertebral layer by loose connective tissue only, and thus an 

 easily distended space, the retro-pharyngeal space, is found between them. This 

 space is limited above by the base of the skull, while below it extends behind the 



OMO-HYOID. 



Thyroid body. 



Common carotid artery. 

 Internal jugular mn., 



STERNO-MASTOID.v 



Pneumogas- ) 

 trie nerve. } 



f Anterior jugular vein. 



- STERNO-HYOID. 



STERNO-THYROID. 



Trachea. 



- (Esophagus. 



..LONGUS COLLI. 



6th cervical. 

 Vertebral vessels. 



SPLENI 

 COLL 



LEVATOH 



ANGULI 



SCAPUL/E. 



TRAPEZIUS. - 



SEMI-SPINALIS COLLI. 



COMPLEXUS. 

 -SPLENIUS CAPITIS. 



FIG. 201. Section of the neck at about the level of the sixth cervical vertebra. Showing the arrangement of 



the deep cervical fascia. 



oesophagus into the thorax, where it is continued into the posterior mediastinum. 

 The prevertebral fascia is prolonged downward and outward behind the carotid 

 vessels and in front of the Scaleni muscles, and forms a sheath for the brachial 

 nerves and subclavian vessels in the posterior triangle of the neck, and, continued 

 under the clavicle as the axillary sheath, is attached to the deep surface of the 

 costo-coracoid membrane. Immediately above the clavicle an areolar space exists 

 between the investing layer and the sheath of the subclavian vessels, and in it are 

 found the loAver part of the external jugular vein, the descending clavicular nerves, 

 the suprascapular and transversalis colli vessels, and the posterior belly of the 



