pretracheal
Pretracheal is an anatomical term referring to structures located in the front of the trachea in the neck, often in relation to the pretracheal fascia. In anatomy, the pretracheal fascia forms part of the deep cervical fascia and has two components: a muscular part that surrounds the infrahyoid muscles, and a visceral part that encloses the thyroid gland, the trachea, and the upper esophagus. The visceral part extends from the hyoid bone downward into the superior mediastinum, where it blends with surrounding fascia; the muscular part attaches to the hyoid bone above and to the sternum and clavicle below, helping to suspend the larynx and thyroid region.
The structures contained within or associated with the pretracheal fascia include the thyroid gland, the trachea,
Clinical relevance includes the possibility that infections, inflammatory processes, or neoplastic growths in the pretracheal region