Suprahyoid neck fascial configuration, especially in the posterior compartment of the parapharyngeal space: A histological study using late‐stage human fetuses

Abstract

The fascial configuration in the suprahyoid parapharyngeal space was evaluated using semiserial sagittal sections of 15 late-stage human fetal heads. The prevertebral fascia covered the longus colli, longus capitis, and rectus capitis lateralis muscles, but was most evident along the longus colli muscle. The carotid sheath and its extension were located around the internal and external carotid arteries and the lower cranial nerves. The superior cervical ganglion was also inside the sheath. Even near full term, the fetal suprahyoid neck was short, with the jugular foramen and hypoglossal canal located at the posterolateral side of the oropharynx. Thus, the glossopharyngeal and accessory nerves ran across the upper part of the carotid sheath. Fasciae of the stylopharyngeus, styloglossus, and stylohyoideus muscles were attached to and joined the anterosuperior aspect of the carotid sheath. All these neurovascular and muscle sheaths are communicated with the visceral fascia covering the pharynx at multiple sites, and, together, they formed a mesentery-like bundle. This communication bundle was made narrow by the anteriorly protruding longus capitis muscle. The mesentery-like bundle was covered by the posterior marginal fascia of the prestyloid compartment of the parapharyngeal space. The external carotid artery ran on the lateral and posterior sides of the posterior marginal fascia. Consequently, the typical carotid sheath configuration was modified by muscle sheaths from the styloid process, communicated with the visceral fascia and, anteriorly, constituted the posterior margin of the prestyloid space.

The Origin of the Variations of the Hyoid Apparatus in Human

“…Actually, Meckel's cartilage can support development of the sphenomandibular ligament in the first branchial arch (Rodrıguez-Vazquez et al, 1992). Katori et al (2013) reported a distinct fascial development (tensor-vascular-styloid fascia in radiology) that was near but did not correspond to the sylohyoid ligament according to the fetal topographical anatomy. At least in the …”

Fetal anatomy of the upper pharyngeal muscles with special reference to the nerve supply: is it an enteric plexus or simply an intramuscular nerve?

“…Although this confluence is not shown in the figures (lateral to Fig. 3E), it was located immediately superior to the nodose ganglion of the vagus nerve [12, 13]. The pharyngeal nerves would be expected to communicate with the vagus nerve branches, but because we used semi-serial sections cut at 100- to 200-µm intervals, we were unable to investigate the actual morphology of this communication.…”

“…However, the present immunohistochemical study did not reveal any nerve connecting the LVP to the palatal region. In addition, lateral sections have been provided in our recent publications [12, 13]. …”

Vocal Fold Augmentation with Injectable Polycaprolactone Microspheres/Pluronic F127 Hydrogel: Long-Term In Vivo Study for the Treatment of Glottal Insufficiency

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