Fascial spaces (also termed fascial tissue spaces[1] or tissue spaces[2]) are potential spaces that exist between the fasciae and underlying organs and other tissues.[3] In health, these spaces do not exist; they are only created by pathology, e.g. the spread of pus or cellulitis in an infection. The fascial spaces can also be opened during the dissection of a cadaver. The fascial spaces are different from the fasciae themselves, which are bands of connective tissue that surround structures, e.g. muscles. The opening of fascial spaces may be facilitated by pathogenic bacterial release of enzymes which cause tissue lysis (e.g. hyaluronidase and collagenase).[1][4] The spaces filled with loose areolar connective tissue may also be termed clefts. Other contents such as salivary glands, blood vessels, nerves and lymph nodes are dependent upon the location of the space. Those containing neurovascular tissue (nerves and blood vessels) may also be termed compartments.
Generally, the spread of infection is determined by barriers such as muscle, bone and fasciae. Pus moves by the path of least resistance,[5] e.g. the fluid will more readily dissect apart loosely connected tissue planes, such the fascial spaces, than erode through bone or muscles. In the head and neck, potential spaces are primarily defined by the complex attachment of muscles, especially mylohyoid, buccinator, masseter, medial pterygoid, superior constrictor and orbicularis oris.[6]
Infections involving fascial spaces of the head and neck may give varying signs and symptoms depending upon the spaces involved. Trismus (difficulty opening the mouth) is a sign that the muscles of mastication (the muscles that move the jaw) are involved.[2] Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) and dyspnoea (difficulty breathing) may be a sign that the airway is being compressed by the swelling.
^ abNewlands C, Kerawala C (2010). Oral and maxillofacial surgery. Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 374–375. ISBN 9780199204830.
^ abOdell W (2010). Clinical problem solving in dentistry (3rd ed.). Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone. pp. 151–153, 229–233. ISBN 9780443067846.
^Kenneth M. Hargreaves; Stephen Cohen; Louis H.Berman, eds. (2010). Cohen's pathways of the pulp (10th ed.). St. Louis, Mo.: Mosby Elsevier. pp. 590–595. ISBN 978-0323064897.
^Cite error: The named reference Topazian 2002 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Cite error: The named reference Norton 2007 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Standring S (2004). Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice (39th ed.). Elsevier. ISBN 978-0443066764.
and 29 Related for: Fascial spaces of the head and neck information
Fascialspaces (also termed fascial tissue spaces or tissue spaces) are potential spaces that exist between the fasciae and underlying organs and other...
The submental space is a fascialspaceoftheheadandneck (sometimes also termed fascialspaces or tissue spaces). It is a potential space located between...
The parapharyngeal space (also termed the lateral pharyngeal space), is a potential space in theheadandtheneck. It has clinical importance in otolaryngology...
The buccal space (also termed the buccinator space) is a fascialspaceoftheheadandneck (sometimes also termed fascial tissue spaces or tissue spaces)...
The submasseterric space (also termed the masseteric space) is a fascialspaceoftheheadandneck (sometimes also termed fascialspaces or tissue spaces)...
pericardial cavity epidural space (within the skull) subdural space peritoneal cavity buccal spaceFascialspacesoftheheadandneck Saladin, Kenneth S. (2011)...
temporal space Epidural space Extraperitoneal spaceFascialspacesoftheheadandneck Infratemporal space Intercostal space Intermembrane space Interstitial...
Illustrated Anatomy oftheHeadandNeck (5th ed.). St. Louis: Elsevier. p. 266. ISBN 978-0-323-39634-9. This article incorporates text in the public domain...
Anatomy Head & Neck. kolkata: Current books international. pp. 126–128. ISBN 978-81-86793-79-4. Sagittal Section Showing Deep Cervical Fascial Layers Infrahyoid...
The thoracolumbar fascia (lumbodorsal fascia or thoracodorsal fascia) is a complex,: 1137 multilayer arrangement offascialand aponeurotic layers forming...
knowledge regards the superficial layer to be continuous with the fascia ofthe platysma, andthe deep layer to be derived from the deep cervical fascia...
Illustrated Anatomy oftheHeadandNeck (5th ed.). St. Louis: Elsevier. p. 267. ISBN 978-0-323-39634-9. Morton, David A. (2019). The Big Picture: Gross...
Fehrenbach, Margaret J.; Herring, Susan W. (2017). Illustrated Anatomy oftheHeadandNeck (5th ed.). St. Louis: Elsevier. p. 267. ISBN 978-0-323-39634-9. Kyung...
The pharyngobasilar fascia is a fascia ofthe pharynx. It is situated between the mucous and muscular layers ofthe pharynx.[citation needed] It is formed...
constituting the parotideomasseteric fascia - to form a fascial compartment that encloses the masseter muscle as well as the medial and lateral pterygoid...
primary spaces can spread to fascial planes between the muscles of mastication (masseter, medial pterygoid, and temporalis) or within the deep neckspaces. The...
bellies ofthe digastric muscle andthe hyoid bone. The submental lymph nodes are situated in the submental fascialspace. They are situated close to the midline...
Global Information