112 



THE HEAD AND NECK 



a thick sheet into the thorax, where it blends with the anterior 

 longitudinal (common) ligament. Traced laterally, the pre- 

 vertebral fascia gradually becomes thinner. It passes behind 

 the great vessels of the neck and covers the muscles on which 

 they lie, viz. the longus colli, the longus capitis (rectus capitis 

 anticus major), and the scalenus anterior. It is then continued 

 on to the surfaces of the adjacent muscles, viz. the splenius 



Sterno-hyoid Anterior jugular vein, transverse anastomosis 

 Anterior jugular vein | | Trachea 



Recurrent nerve I Suprasternal space 



Parathyreoid gland I i Sheath of thyreoid gland 



Investing layer | | | | | (Ksophagus 



Sterno-thyreoid v^A-rt3^4-=^ i^^Zr-/-^ Thyreoid gland 



Sheath of thyreoid gland >^^<SJfiSlE3E83s2RSifc5*^, Capsule of thyreoid gland 

 Sterno-mastoid >^2Sgi ^g^l^v C !t7ug U [ar ?*"* 



arotid sheath 



t-ertebral fascia 



xt. jugular vein 

 Onio-hyoid 



Investing 



layer of deep 



cervical 



fascia 



Sympathetic trunk ' 

 Inferior thyreoid artery 



-ong- thoracic nerve (of Bel 

 Vertebral vessels 



FIG. 36. Transverse Section through Neck, at level of Seventh Cervical 

 Vertebra, showing the arrangement of the Deep Cervical Fascia. On 

 the left side, a tuberculous abscess is shown, originating in the body of 

 a vertebra and spreading laterally behind the pre vertebral fascia. After 

 eroding the muscles, it has penetrated the prevertebral fascia and made 

 its way into the posterior triangle of the neck. 



capitis, the levator scapulae, the scalenus medius and posterior, 

 i.e. it forms the fascial floor of the posterior triangle. As the 

 anterior rami (primary divisions) of the cervical nerves lie on 

 the upper surfaces of the transverse processes of the vertebrae, 

 they are situated behind the prevertebral fascia. The superficial 

 branches of the cervical plexus soon pierce it, but the phrenic 

 nerve lies deep to the fascia as it runs down in front of the scalenus 

 anterior. When the roots of the brachial plexus and the sub- 

 clavian artery emerge from under cover of the scalenus anterior, 

 they carry the prevertebral fascia with them downwards and 



