The anatomy of lamina pretrachealis fasciae cervicalis.

The definitions concerning the fascia pretrachealis is either contradictory or insufficient in anatomy textbooks. The fascia pretracheatis is clinically important in the procedure of tracheostomy, mediastinascopy and also in tracheal and bronchial trauma. The anatomy of the fascia pretrachealis (extension, relation and the attachments) was reexamined using cadaveric preparations and the clinical value of the fascia is reinforced. The fascia pretrachealis is attached to the upper brim and to the oblique line of the thyroid cartilage and continued its course on the anterior surface of the trachea and fused with the advantitia of arch of the aorta, posterior aspect of pulmonary artery and the pericardium. Laterally it is attached to the cartilagenous part of the trachea. Also contraversial literature concerning description of the fascia pretrachealis has been evaluated.