Investing layer of deep cervical fascia

The investing layer of deep cervical fascia is the most superficial part of the deep cervical fascia, and encloses the whole neck.

It is considered by some sources to be incomplete^[1] or nonexistent.^[2]

Attachments

It surrounds the neck like a collar, it splits around the

• Ligamentum nuchae
• Anteriorly - Attached to the hyoid bone
• Superiorly
  - (from backwards to forwards);
  • Superior nuchal line of occipital bone
  • Mastoid process of Temporal bone
  • External acoustic meatus
  • Lower margin of the zygomatic arch
  • Lower border of body of
    symphysis menti
• Inferiorly
  - (from backwards to forwards);
  • Spine and acromial process of scapula
  • Upper surface of the clavicle
  • Suprasternal notch of
    manubrium sterni^[3]

• Horizontal extent - From
  sternocleidomastoid
  , reunites and forms the roof of anterior triangle.
• Vertical extent -
  • Superior tracing - It splits and encloses submandibular gland and parotid gland;

 - It splits at lower border of submandibular gland into superficial and deep layers;which attach to lower body of body of mandible and mylohyoid line of mandible
 - It splits at lower pole of parotid gland into superficial and deep layers; superficial layer attaches to zygomatic arch and forms parotido-masseteric fascia after blending with masseter, deep layer attaches to tympanic plate and styloid process forming the stylomandibular ligament

• • Inferior tracing - The fascia splits to enclose two spaces; suprasternal space and supraclavicular space^[4]

References

This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 388 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)