10 Pharynx Flashcards
what is the pharynx
passage way which conducts air and food
3 parts to the pharynx
- nasopharynx
- oropharynx
- laryngopharnx
what goes through the nasopharynx
only air
what epithelium lines the nasopharynx
respiratory epithelium
what are the borders of the nasopharynx
back edge of nasal septum to back edge of soft palate
what opening is found in the nasopharynx
auditory tube
what is the function of the auditory tube
allows air to enter the middle ear
why is it necessary to have air enter the middle ear
because the old air is absorbed by the lining
what surrounds the opening of the auditory tube
tubual elevation
what causes the tubual elevation
cartilage and lining mucosa which forms the medial end of auditory tube
what is the deep recess behind the opening of the auditory tube called
pharyngeal recess
why is the pharyngeal recess significant
if there is malignant change here it is hard to spot as such a deep pocket
what is lateral to the pharyngeal recess
internal carotid artery (ie need to be careful not to damage if doing surgery at pharyngeal recess)
when does the mouth become the oropharynx
palatoglossal fold
where is the palatopharyngeus muscle
little muscle which blends with the wall of the pharynx
what does the palatopharyngeus muscle do
when you swallow it helps bring the soft palate against the back wall of the pharynx to improve the seal
what is the between the two palatoglossal folds
isthmus of fauces
where are the palatine tonsils
sit in between the two folds in the tonsillar fossa
do children have larger or smaller palatine tonsils than adults
larger as immune system is very active
what is the recess in between the tongue and the epiglottis called
vallecula
what is the vallecula known for
getting fish bones stuck
what is the border of the laryngopharynx
tip of epiglottis to after cricoid cartilage
what is the epiglottis made of
elastic cartilage
what is the recess below and lateral to the inlet of the larynx
pyriform fossa
what is the pyriform fossa known for
getting fish bones stuck
what makes up Waldeyer’s ring
- pharyngeal tonsil (adenoids)
- tubal tonsil
- palatine tonsil
- lingual tonsil
what is Waldeyer’s ring
an interrupted series of tonsils round the start of the airways for protection
what do you need to be careful of in a tonsilectomy
the tonsiler branch of the facial artery
what epithelium lines the oropharynx and laryngopharynx
stratified squamous non-keratinised epithelium
why do the vocal folds appear whiter
Different epithelium
- they are stratified squamous
- surrounding them is pseudostratified columnar
what movements do the vocal folds make
Abduct = move apart Aduct = move together
what muscle aducts (moves apart) the vocal folds
inter arytenoid muscle
what muscle abducts (moves together) the vocal folds
posterior cricoarytenoid
what produces sounds and vowels
vibration of vocal folds
what produces constanants
shape of lips and tongue
what are the boundaries of the larynx
- epiglottis
- arepiglottic fold
Describe the cough reflex
- something hits around the vocal folds
- vagus nerve supplies the mucosa of the larynx
- deep breath comes in (diaphragm)
- vocal folds aduct to close the larynx
- glottis is the airway at the level of the vocal folds so its that which comes together so the glottis folds
- forced expiration (abdominal muscles contract, diaphram relaxes)
what changes the pitch of someones voice
- Higher note increases frequency of vibrations which involves cricothyroid joint
- When cricothyroid muscle contracts causes the thyroid cartilage to tilt slightly just enough to increase the tension of the vocal folds so the pitch increases.
- Cricothyroid muscle supplied by the vagus nerve
if there was malignancy on the vocal folds where would the lymph drain to
deep cervical lymph nodes
how would a patient breathe during an operation on their vocal folds
planned airway created at 2nd, 3rd and 4th rings of trachea
