RT Journal Article
T1 Early stages of development of the alar fascia (human specimens at 6–12 weeks of development)
A1 López Fernández, Pedro
A1 Murillo González, Jorge Alfonso
A1 Arráez Aybar, Luis Alfonso
A1 Cuadra Blanco, Crótida De La
A1 Moreno Borreguero, Alicia
A1 Mérida Velasco, José Ramón
AB In recent years, there has been much discussion concerning the cervical fasciae. The aim of this study is to confirm and to describe the development of the alar fascia as well as its relationship with nearby structures. Histological preparations of 25 human embryos (6-8 weeks of development) and 25 human fetuses (9-12 weeks of development) were studied bilaterally using a conventional optical microscope. Our study confirms the existence of the alar fascia and permits three stages to be established during its development. The initial stage (1st), corresponding to the 6th week of development (Carnegie stages 18-19), is characterized by the beginning of the alar fascia primordium in the retroesophageal space at the level of C7-T1. In the formation stage (2nd), corresponding to the 7th and 8th weeks of development (Carnegie stages 20-23), the alar fascia primordium grows upwards and reaches the level of C2-C3. In the maturation stage (3rd), beginning in the 9th week of development, the visceral, alar and prevertebral fasciae can be identified. The alar fascia divides the retrovisceral space (retropharyngeal and retroesophageal) into two spaces: one anterior (between the alar fascia and the visceral fascia and extending from C1 to T1, named retropharyngeal or retroesophageal space according to the level) and the other posterior (between the alar fascia and the prevertebral fascia, named danger space). We suggest that this latter space be named the retroalar space. This study suggests that alar fascia development is related to mechanical factors and that the alar fascia permits the sliding of the pharynx and the oesophagus during swallowing.
PB WILEY
SN 0021-8782
SN 1469-7580
YR 2019
FD 2019-08-16
LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/102519
UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/102519
LA eng
NO López-Fernández P, Murillo-González J, Arráez-Aybar LA, de la Cuadra-Blanco C, Moreno-Borreguero A, Mérida-Velasco JR. Early stages of development of the alar fascia (human specimens at 6-12 weeks of development). J Anat. 2019 Dec;235(6):1098-1104.
DS Docta Complutense
RD 7 abr 2025