Peripharyngeal space

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The peripharyngeal space is an important space in the cervical area. It connects the base of the skull with the mediastinum and is bounded by the buccopharyngeal fascia or the praetracheal laminia (front) and the prevertebral lamina (rear) of the cervical fascia . Due to the direct connection to the mediastinum, there is a risk of inflammation in the head or neck area (e.g. after tonsillitis ) reaching the mediastinum, which is known as a sagging abscess .

The blood vessels and nerves to the throat viscera (e.g. the throat ), which are located in this gap, enter from the side. The loose connective tissue ensures that you can follow the movements of these organs, for example when swallowing .

Breakdown

The peripharyngeal space can be subdivided into a pair of lateropharyngeal spaces and an unpaired retropharyngeal space by means of sagittal connective tissue ( septum sagittal ) and the tendon plate of the stylopharyngeal muscle ( aponeurosis stylopharyngea ) . These get into different parts of the mediastinum.

Lateropharyngeal space

The lateropharyngeal space extends from the lateral base of the skull to the upper thoracic aperture , thereby connecting it to the upper mediastinum. At the base of the skull it borders dorsally (behind) on the internal carotid artery , the internal jugular vein and the four lower cranial nerves ( glossopharyngeal nerve , vagus nerve , accessory nerve and hypoglossal nerve ). The common carotid artery (from which the internal carotid artery arises) and the internal jugular vein as well as the vagus nerve are enveloped further down in the neck area by the carotid vagina , which is fused with the praetracheal lamina of the neck fascia.

Retropharyngeal space

This part of the peripharyngeal space lies between the throat or esophagus and the spine and enables movement between them. The retropharyngeal space opens into the posterior mediastinum.

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