Scalp ↔ Face ↔ Cervical fascia

Cervicofacial Continuum

Strong evidence at flat-muscle segments — dissection-confirmed

Galea aponeurotica → SMAS → platysma → superficial cervical fascia → deep cervical fascia (carotid sheath)

Structures

  1. 1
    Galea aponeuroticascalp
    →
  2. 2
    SMASface
    →
  3. 3
    Parotideomasseteric fasciacheek
    →
  4. 4
    Platysma + cervical fascianeck
    →
  5. 5
    Carotid sheath (vagina carotica)deep cervical
    →

Muscle references

FrontalisOccipitalisPlatysmaMasseter
ⓘ

Documented as continuous superficial fascial planes specifically where flat mimetic muscles are present (galea, temporal fascia, platysma) — recent cadaveric dissection (Minelli et al. 2024, n=50) found this layer 3 is not continuous between all mimetic muscles, and argues against treating the SMAS as a single uniform anatomical entity. Described as fascial continuity along documented segments, not a tension line.

Sources

The Superficial Musculoaponeurotic System: Does It Really Exist as an Anatomical Entity?

Minelli L, van der Lei B, Mendelson BC · Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 2024 · 50 cadaver heads, layered dissection + histology + sheet plastination