Retropharyngeal space
Section of the neck at about the level of the sixth cervical vertebra. Showing the arrangement of the fascia coli.
Sagittal section of nose mouth, pharynx, and larynx.
Latin	spatium retropharyngeum
Gray's	subject #111 390

The retropharyngeal space is a space bounded by the buccopharyngeal fascia anteriorly and the alar fascia posteriorly.

It includes 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.

Contents 1 Clinical significance 2 Relations 3 References 4 External links

[edit] Clinical significance

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

[edit] 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: Anterior Pharynx
• Posterior: Alar fascia^[2]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• SUNY Figs 31:01-04
• MedEd at Loyola Radio/curriculum/Bones/Image476a.jpg

This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained within it may be outdated.

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v • d • e Anatomy of torso, digestive system: Gastrointestinal tract, excluding mouth (TA A05.3-7, GA 11.1141) Upper GI Hypo- pharynx Piriform sinus spaces: Peripharyngeal space (Retropharyngeal space, Parapharyngeal space) · Retrovisceral space (Retropharyngeal space, Danger space) · Prevertebral space Pterygomandibular raphe · Pharyngeal raphe · Buccopharyngeal fascia · Pharyngobasilar fascia Pharyngeal muscles Esophagus UES, LES Stomach Gastric rugae · gastric pits · cardia/gland · fundus/gland · pylorus/gland · pyloric antrum · pyloric canal · greater curvature · lesser curvature · angular incisure Lower GI Intestine: small Duodenum (Suspensory muscle, Major duodenal papilla, Minor duodenal papilla, Duodenal cap) • Duodenojejunal flexure • Jejunum • Ileum (Terminal ileum) • Ileocecal valve continuous (intestinal villus, crypts of Lieberkühn, circular folds) Intestine: large Vermiform appendix • Cecum • Colon (ascending colon, hepatic flexure, transverse colon, splenic flexure, descending colon, sigmoid colon) continuous (taenia coli, haustra, epiploic appendix) Termination Rectum: Houston valve • rectal ampulla • pectinate line Anal canal: anal valves • anal sinuses • anal columns • Hilton's white line Anus: Sphincter ani internus muscle • Sphincter ani externus muscle Lymph GALT: Peyer's patches (M cells) digestive system navs: anat of tract,glands,perit,diaphragm/physio/dev, noncongen/congen/congen of d+w/neoplasia, symptoms+signs/eponymous, proc