Investing layer of deep cervical fascia

Attachments

It surrounds the neck like a collar, it splits around the sternocleidomastoid muscle and the trapezius muscle. It is attached as;

Posteriorly - Ligamentum nuchae

Anteriorly - Attached to the hyoid bone

Superiorly - (from backwards to forwards);

External occipital protuberance and Superior nuchal line of occipital bone

Mastoid process of Temporal bone

External acoustic meatus

Lower margin of the zygomatic arch

Lower border of body of mandible from the angle of mandible to the symphysis menti

Inferiorly - (from backwards to forwards);

Spine and acromial process of scapula

Upper surface of the clavicle

Suprasternal notch of manubrium sterni

Tracings

Horizontal extent - From ligamentum nuchae when traced forward, the fascia splits and encloses trapezius, reunites and form roof of posterior triangle of neck; again splits and encloses sternocleidomastoid, reunites and forms the roof of anterior triangle.

Vertical extent -

Superior tracing - It splits and encloses submandibular gland and parotid gland;

- It splits at lower border of submandibular gland into superficial and deep layers;which attach to lower body of body of mandible and mylohyoid line of mandible - It splits at lower pole of parotid gland into superficial and deep layers; superficial layer attaches to zygomatic arch and forms parotido-masseteric fascia after blending with masseter,deep layer attaches to tympanic plate and styloid process forming the stylomandibular ligament

Inferior tracing - The fascia splits to enclose two spaces; suprasternal space and supraclavicular space

Existence

It is considered by some sources to be incomplete or nonexistent.