Corpus: Lateropharyngeal space

The paired spatium lateropharyngeum is an anatomical space that lies laterally on either side of the pharynx and extends from the base of the skull to the upper thoracic aperture. It is one of the cervical spaces.

The spatium lateropharyngeum contains lymph nodes, the sympathetic trunk and the carotid vagina with the internal carotid artery and the internal jugular vein. It is also traversed by the four upper cranial nerves, the glossopharyngeal nerve (HN IX), the vagus nerve (HN X), the accessorius nerve (HN XI) and the hypoglossal nerve (HN XII). Branches of the mandibular nerve (V3) and the otic ganglion are located cranially.

The styloid process of the temporal bone and the muscles attached to it project cranially into the lateropharyngeal space. These muscles are surrounded by a common fascia and together form the styloid diaphragm, which divides the upper part of the spatium lateropharyngeum into a spatium praestyloideum and a spatium retrostyloideum.

Together with the spatium retropharyngeum, the spatium lateropharyngeum forms the spatium peripharyngeum. Both spaces are separated from each other by a sagittal septum.

Infections can spread from the tonsilla palatina, the teeth or the parotid gland via the spatium lateropharyngeum into:

• Internal jugular vein (septicaemia, jugular vein thrombosis)
• Cerebrospinal fluid space (meningitis)

In addition, the inflammation can spread into the mediastinum as a sink abscess.