Head fascia

Characteristics

The fascia of the head does not represent a continuous whole, since the small mimic muscles are attached to the skin and thus make the existence of a continuous layer impossible. Thus, several fascias are created in specific sections.

Fascia temporalis

Head fascia

Siaha from linea temporalis superior to arcus zygomaticus. Its upper edge merges with the galea aponeurotica. It consists of two sheets:

  • lamina superficialis − attached to the outer surface of the arcus zygomaticus;
  • lamina profunda − attaches to the inner surface of the zygomatic arc.

A gap is formed between the sheets, which is filled by fatty tissue.

Parotid fascia

Formed around the parotid gland. It passes into the masseteric fascia.

Fascia masseterica

It extends from the arcus zygomaticus to the ventral edge of the ramus mandibulae and passes in the lamina superficialis of the cervical fascia. It covers the masseter muscle. (The posterior part merges with the parotid fascia)

Fascia buccopharyngea

It covers the buccinator muscle and is attached together with it to the raphe pterygomandibularis. Subsequently, it merges with the superficial ligament of the pharynx.

Lamina interpterygoidea

Despite the name, it is not a true fascia, but a plate created from the gapped ligament between the pterygoideus lateralis et medialis muscle. Contains: a. maxillaris, plexus pterygoideus, nerves emerging from the foramen ovale and fissura petrotympanica.

A thin fascia also covers the corpus adiposum buccae, the fat body of the cheek.

References

  • ČIHÁK, Radomír. Anatomie I. 2. edition. Praha : Grada, 2001. 516 pp. ISBN 978-80-7169-970-5.