Carotid sheath
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| Carotid sheath | |
|---|---|
| Section of the neck at about the level of the sixth cervical vertebra. Showing the arrangement of the fascia coli.( (Carotid sheath illustrated but not labeled.) | |
| Latin | vagina carotica fasciae cervicalis |
| Gray's | subject #111 389 |
| Dorlands/Elsevier | v_01/12842562 |
The carotid sheath is an anatomical term for the fibrous connective tissue that surrounds the internal carotid artery and related structures in the neck.
Contents |
[edit] Structure
The carotid sheath runs from the base of the skull down to the root of the neck.
The three major structures contained in the carotid sheath are the internal carotid artery (common carotid artery below the carotid bifurcation), internal jugular vein, and the vagus nerve. The carotid artery lies medial to the internal jugular vein, and the vagus nerve is situated posteriorly between the two vessels.
In the upper part, the carotid sheath also contains the glossopharyngeal nerve, the accessory nerve, and the hypoglossal nerve, which pierce the fascia of the carotid sheath.
The three major fascial layers in the neck contribute to the carotid sheath: the investing fascia, the pretracheal fascia, and the prevertebral fascia.
[edit] Relations
The cervical part of the sympathetic trunk is imbedded in prevertebral fascia immediately posterior to the sheath.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
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