The prevertebral space is a space in the neck.
On one side it is bounded by the
prevertebral fascia
The prevertebral fascia (or prevertebral layer of cervical fascia) is a fascia in the neck.
Variations
In some literature, the prevertebral fascia also includes the other fascial layers extending around the vertebral column and enclosing all mus ...
.
On the other side, some sources define it as bounded by the
vertebral bodies,
and others define it as bounded by the
longus colli
The longus colli muscle (Latin for ''long muscle of the neck'') is a muscle of the human body.
The longus colli is situated on the anterior surface of the vertebral column, between the atlas and the third thoracic vertebra.
It is broad in the mid ...
.
It includes the
prevertebral muscles (
longus colli
The longus colli muscle (Latin for ''long muscle of the neck'') is a muscle of the human body.
The longus colli is situated on the anterior surface of the vertebral column, between the atlas and the third thoracic vertebra.
It is broad in the mid ...
and
longus capitis
The longus capitis muscle (Latin for ''long muscle of the head'', alternatively rectus capitis anticus major), is broad and thick above, narrow below, and arises by four tendinous slips, from the anterior tubercles of the transverse processes of th ...
),
vertebral artery
The vertebral arteries are major arteries of the neck. Typically, the vertebral arteries originate from the subclavian arteries. Each vessel courses superiorly along each side of the neck, merging within the skull to form the single, midline ba ...
,
vertebral vein
The vertebral vein is formed in the suboccipital triangle, from numerous small tributaries which spring from the internal vertebral venous plexuses and issue from the vertebral canal above the posterior arch of the atlas.
They unite with small v ...
,
scalene muscle
The scalene muscles are a group of three pairs of muscles in the lateral neck, namely the anterior scalene, middle scalene, and posterior scalene. They are innervated by the third to the eight cervical spinal nerves (C3-C8).
The anterior and ...
s,
phrenic nerve and part of the
brachial plexus
The brachial plexus is a network () of nerves formed by the anterior rami of the lower four cervical nerves and first thoracic nerve ( C5, C6, C7, C8, and T1). This plexus extends from the spinal cord, through the cervicoaxillary canal in t ...
.
In trauma, an increased thickness of the prevertebral space is a sign of injury, and can be measured with
medical imaging.
Clinical significance
On plain radiography, prevertebral space should be less than 6 mm at C3 vertebral level in children; while in adults, the space should be less than 6 mm at C2 level and less than 22 mm at C6 level. Causes of enlarged prevertebral space could be edema, hematoma, abscess, tumors, and post surgical changes.
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]
References
Human head and neck
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