Fascia of neck

The fasciae of the neck are connective tissue layers that support and organize the structures of the neck. They are divided into superficial cervical fascia and deep cervical fascia. The superficial fascia lies beneath the skin and contains the platysma muscle, superficial veins, nerves, and fat. The deep cervical fascia is dense and consists of the investing layer, pretracheal layer, and prevertebral layer. The investing layer encloses the sternocleidomastoid and trapezius muscles and salivary glands. The pretracheal layer surrounds the infrahyoid muscles and visceral organs such as the thyroid gland, trachea, and esophagus. The prevertebral layer covers the vertebral column and deep neck muscles. The carotid sheath encloses major vessels and the vagus nerve.