| Danger space | |
|---|---|
 Section of the neck at about the level of the sixth cervical vertebra. Showing the arrangement of the fascia coli. | |
| Anatomical terminology |
Thedanger space oralar space, is a region of the neck.[1] The common name originates from the risk that aninfection in this space can spread directly to thethorax, and, due to being a space continuous on the left and right, can furthermore allow infection to spread easily to either side.
It is bounded at the top by theskull base, at the front by thealar fascia and behind by theprevertebral fascia. It comes to an end at the level of the diaphragm.
Theretropharyngeal space is found anterior to the danger space, between the alar fascia andbuccopharyngeal fascia. There exists a midline raphe in this space so some infections of this space appear unilateral. Theretropharyngeal space drains into the superior mediastinum, whereas the danger space drains into the posterior mediastinum.
OnCT orMRI it is only visible when distended by fluid or pus, below the level of T1-T6, as the retropharyngeal space ends at this level, allowing distinction between the two entities.[2] Superior spread of infection can affect the contents of thecarotid sheath, including theinternal jugular vein and cranial nerves IX, X, XI, and XII, while inferior spread of infection through the danger space can causemediastinitis.
It was first characterized in 1938.[3][4]
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