The carotid sheath is a fibrous connective structure in the neck that surrounds vital vascular components, including the carotid artery, internal jugular vein, and vagus nerve. It is part of the deep cervical fascia, which consists of four layers: the investing layer, carotid sheath, pre-tracheal fascia, and pre-vertebral fascia. The carotid sheath is formed by the investing fascia, pre-tracheal fascia, and pre-vertebral fascia, and also contains additional cranial nerves in its upper region.

1. “PRESENTATION ON THE CAROTID SHEATH”
ST. FRANCIS UNIVERSITY COLLEGE
OF HEALTH AND ALLIED SCIENCE.

2. Carotid sheath
The carotid sheath is an anatomical term for the fibrous
connective tissue that surrounds the vascular compartment of the
neck.
It is part of the deep cervical fascia of the neck,
The deep cervical fascia of the neck includes four parts:
 The investing layer
 The carotid sheath (encloses the vascular region of the neck)
 The pre-tracheal fascia (encloses the visceral region of the neck)
 The pre-vertebral fascia (encloses the vertebral region of the neck)

3. CAROTID SHEATH…
Carotid Sheath is
Formed by all three layers
of deep fascia Contains
carotid artery, internal
jugular vein, and vagus
nerve

4. STRUCTURE OF THE CAROTID SHEATH
The four major structures contained in the carotid sheath are:
 the common carotid artery as well as the internal carotid artery
 Internal jugular vein
 The Vagus nerve (CN X)
 The deep cervical lymph nodes
The carotid artery lies medial to the internal jugular vein, and the
vagus nerve is situated posterior between the two vessels.
 In the upper part, the carotid sheath also contains the gloss
pharyngeal nerve (IX), the accessory nerve (XI), and the
hypoglossal nerve (XII), which pierce the fascia of the carotid
sheath.

5. Fascial Layers and Relations
 The deep cervical fascia of the neck has four layers, listed from superficial to deep.
The first is known as the investing layer and surrounds the sternocleidomastoid
muscle and the trapezius muscle.
The second that of the current topic, the carotid sheath which encompasses the
vascular region of the neck.
The third is called the pre-tracheal fascia and encloses the visceral region of the neck.
Lastly, the fourth fascial layer is the pre-vertebral fascia and it surrounds the vertebral
region of the neck.
The carotid sheath itself is an accumulation of three of the layers of the deep
cervical fascia. These layers include the investing fascia, the pre-tracheal fascia and the
pre-vertebral fascia. An important adjacent anatomical structure which can be seen
just behind the carotid sheath is the cervical part of the sympathetic trunk which is
embedded in the pre-vertebral fascia.

7.  FESTO DONALD NGADAYA
 JACOB ALOYCE
 BEATRICE SIMBA
 NAOMI RICHARD
 JOSHUA MAPUNDA
 GERMANDUS VUNGU
GROUP NO TWO MEMBERS