Visceral Layer of Deep Cervical Fascia
- Lies deep to the infrahyoid muscles, following them to their origin behind the sternum, and splits to enclose the thyroid, trachea, pharynx, and esophagus
- Attached superiorly to the cricoid cartilage(e), thyroid cartilage(d), and hyoid bone(f)
- Attached posteriorly to the (Pre)Vertebral Fascia
- Blends laterally with the carotid sheath and inferiorly with the fibrous pericardium
- Blends posteriorly and superiorly with pharyngeal fascia of the pharynx
- Continuous with Investing Fascia at lateral borders of infrahyoid muscles
- Is refered to pretracheal anteriorly(a) and retrovisceral(c) posteriorly.
Visceral Layer of Deep Cervical Fascia
- Thin layer on the pharynx itself
- Often broken down into Retropharyngeal(b), Lateral Pharyngeal and Buccopharyngeal components as it posteriorly to anteriorly envelops the pharynx
- Retropharyngeal fascia is considered continuous below (T2) with the visceral fascia on the esophagus(Retrovisceral/Retroesophageal Fascia)
- Separates the muscular wall of the pharynx from certain potential spaces that largely surround it.
- Other Components of Visceral Fascia discussed in detail in Suprahyoid section
