page_title: Retropharyngeal space
hierarchical_section_title: Retropharyngeal space
context_page_description: The retropharyngeal space is a potential space of the head and neck, bounded by the buccopharyngeal fascia anteriorly and the alar fascia posteriorly.
  It contains the retropharyngeal lymph nodes.
  Because serious infections of teeth can spread down this space into the posterior mediastinum, it is often confused with the danger space. The danger space is actually between the alar fascia and the prevertebral fascia and extends from the cranial base above to the level of the diaphragm.
context_section_description: The retropharyngeal space is a potential space of the head and neck, bounded by the buccopharyngeal fascia anteriorly and the alar fascia posteriorly. 
  It contains the retropharyngeal lymph nodes.
  Because serious infections of teeth can spread down this space into the posterior mediastinum, it is often confused with the danger space. The danger space is actually between the alar fascia and the prevertebral fascia and extends from the cranial base above to the level of the diaphragm.
caption: Section of the neck at about the level of the sixth cervical vertebra. Showing the arrangement of the deep cervical fascia
exif: {}