Pretracheal Fascia: Key Features And Its Role In Neck And Thyroid Function

Write a short note on pre-tracheal fascia.
Answer.

The pretracheal fascia is so called because it is a layer of deep cervical fascia that lies in front of trachea.

Pre-tracheal Fascia Attachments

Pre-tracheal Fascia Superiorly

Hyoid bone in the median plane
Oblique line of thyroid cartilage
Cricoid cartilage

Inferiorly:

It splits to enclose the thyroid gland, i.e. forms a capsule of the thyroid gland and finally blends with the arch of the aorta.
On either side, it fuses with the front of the carotid sheath.

Pre-tracheal Fascia Functions

Provides a slippery surface for the free movements of the trachea during deglutition
Supports the thyroid gland and does not allow it to sink into the mediastinum

Pre-tracheal Fascia Applied anatomy

Thyroid swelling moves up and down during swallowing because it is enclosed in the pretracheal fascia, which is attached to the laryngeal skeleton (i.e. cricoid and thyroid cartilages and hyoid bone). Since the larynx moves up and down during swallowing, the thyroid gland also moves up and down during swallowing.