Retropharyngeal space

Retropharyngeal space
Retropharyngeal space
	Section of the neck at about the level of the sixth cervical vertebra. Showing the arrangement of the deep cervical fascia
	Sagittal section of nose, mouth, pharynx and larynx
Details
Identifiers
Latin	Spatium retropharyngeum
TA98	A05.3.01.118
TA2	2884
FMA	84965
	Anatomical terminology [edit on Wikidata]

The retropharyngeal space is a potential space of the head and neck, bounded by the buccopharyngeal fascia anteriorly and the alar fascia posteriorly.

It contains the retropharyngeal lymph nodes.^[1]

Because serious infections of teeth can spread down this space into the posterior mediastinum, it is often confused with the danger space. The danger space is actually between the alar fascia and the prevertebral fascia and extends from the cranial base above to the level of the diaphragm.

Clinical significance[]

A midline raphe is present in this space making some infections appear unilateral. However without treatment infections can easily spread from one space to the adjacent space.

If more than half of the size of the C2 vertebra, it may indicate retropharyngeal abscess.^[2]

Relations[]

It is limited above by the base of the skull, and below where the alar fascia fuses with the buccopharyngeal fascia at about the level of T4 and the carina.

Relations of the retropharyngeal space:

Superior: Base of the skull
Inferior: Superior mediastinum
Lateral: Carotid sheath
Anterior: Buccopharyngeal fascia
Posterior: Alar fascia^[3]

Additional images[]

Retropharyngeal abscess

References[]

This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 390 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

^ Chong VF, Fan YF (October 2000). "Radiology of the retropharyngeal space". Clin Radiol. 55 (10): 740–8. doi:10.1053/crad.2000.0510. PMID 11052873.
^ Gary Frank; Samir S Shah; Marina Catallozzi; Lisa B Zaoutis (1 June 2005). The Philadelphia guide: inpatient pediatrics. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. pp. 181–. ISBN 978-1-4051-0428-9. Retrieved 26 May 2010.
^ Ozlugedik S, Ibrahim Acar H, Apaydin N, et al. (October 2005). "Retropharyngeal space and lymph nodes: an anatomical guide for surgical dissection". Acta Otolaryngol. 125 (10): 1111–5. doi:10.1080/00016480510035421. PMID 16298795. S2CID 24415708.