Abbreviations

• Suprahyoid neck (SHN); infrahyoid neck (IHN)

Definitions

• SHN: Spaces from skull base to hyoid bone (excluding orbit, sinuses, & oral cavity) including parapharyngeal (PPS), pharyngeal mucosal (PMS), masticator (MS), parotid (PS), carotid (CS), buccal (BS), retropharyngeal (RPS), & perivertebral (PVS)
  • For purposes of our discussion, sublingual & submandibular spaces are included in oral cavity section of this text
• IHN: Spaces below level of hyoid bone with some continuing into mediastinum including visceral space (VS), posterior cervical space (PCS), anterior cervical space (ACS), CS, RPS, & PVS

Overview

Spaces of Suprahyoid & Infrahyoid Neck

Key Spatial Relationships