The alar fascia is a layer of fascia, sometimes described as part of the
prevertebral fascia
The prevertebral fascia (or prevertebral layer of cervical fascia) is a fascia in the neck.
Variations
In some literature, the prevertebral fascia also includes the other fascial layers extending around the vertebral column and enclosing all mus ...
, and sometimes as in front of it.
Anatomy
Cranially, it reaches the skull, and caudally, it reaches the second
thoracic vertebra
In vertebrates, thoracic vertebrae compose the middle segment of the vertebral column, between the cervical vertebrae and the lumbar vertebrae. In humans, there are twelve thoracic vertebrae and they are intermediate in size between the cervical ...
.
In 2015, the anatomy of the alar fascia was revisited using dissection in conjunction with E12
plastination. The authors revealed that the alar fascia originated as a well defined midline structure at the level of C1 and does not reach the base of the skull. It is suggested that the area between C1 and the base of the skull is a potential entry into the
danger space.
Anatomical relations
The alar fascia represents the posterior boundary of the
retropharyngeal space
The retropharyngeal space (abbreviated as "RPS") is a potential space and deep compartment of the head and neck situated posterior to the pharynx. The RPS is bounded anteriorly by the buccopharyngeal fascia, posteriorly by the alar fascia, and la ...
.
See also
*
Retrovisceral space
References
Fascial spaces of the head and neck
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