Fascia

Description

Posterior cervical and upper thoracic fascia is presented over the back of the head, neck, shoulders, and upper torso in an adult male, with the nuchal region continuous inferiorly into the superficial and deep fascia of the back. The investing layer of deep cervical fascia envelopes the trapezius and sternocleidomastoid, while deeper cervical fascial planes relate to the splenius capitis, levator scapulae, and the scapular stabilizers overlying the medial border of the scapula. Midline, the fascia blends with the ligamentum nuchae and the spinous processes of the cervical and upper thoracic vertebrae, then spreads laterally as aponeurotic sheets toward the acromion, scapular spine, and posterior deltoid. Clean tissue planes. These relationships matter when you are teaching or planning posterior approaches to the neck and shoulder girdle, where fascial continuity can direct the spread of infection, hematoma, or local anesthetic along predictable compartments. The trapezius and levator scapulae are frequent pain generators in cervicogenic headache and myofascial neck pain, and an accurate map of the surrounding fascia helps explain why trigger points and injections can refer pain to the occiput or medial scapular border. In the posterior triangle region, fascial boundaries also frame the spinal accessory nerve’s vulnerable course as it crosses deep to trapezius, a common site of iatrogenic injury during lymph node biopsy. Use this artwork for gross anatomy and regional anatomy teaching modules on cervical fascia, for surgical anatomy figures in otolaryngology and head and neck texts, or for physical therapy education focused on scapulothoracic mechanics and fascial planes in manual therapy. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.