Saturday, June 20, 2020

Pharyngeal Spaces

RETROPHARYNGEAL SPACE

  • Situation: Dead space behind pharynx.
  • Function: Acts as a bursa for expansion of pharynx during deglutition

Boundaries:

  • Anterior: Buccopharyngeal fascia 
  • Posterior: Prevertebral fascia 
  • Sides: Carotid sheath
  • Superior: Base of skull
  • Inferior: Open and continuous with superior mediastinum.

Contents: Retropharyngeal lymph nodes, pharyngeal plexus of vessels and nerves/ loose areolar tissue.

Clinical anatomy: Pus collection due to lymph node abscess. It should be differentiated from cold abscess of spine of cervical vertebrae 


LATERAL PHARYNGEAL SPACE

  • Situation: Side of pharynx 
Boundaries:

  • Medial: Pharynx 
  • Posterolateral: Parotid gland 
  • Anterolateral: Medial Pterygoid
  • Posterior: Carotid sheath 
  • Contents: Maxillary nerve and branches of maxillary artery 
  • Clinical Anatomy: Pus collection/Ludwig's angina 



No comments:

Post a Comment