2 Pharynx Flashcards
What does the pharynx lie posterior to?
- Nasal cavity (nasopharynx)
- Oral cavity (oropharynx) - common pathway for air and food + fluid
- Larynx (laryngopharynx)
What does nasopharynx transport and how is it divided from oropharynx?
- Transports air
* Soft palate divides nasopharynx from oropharynx
What does oropharynx transport?
Transports air plus flood + fluid
Must be separated:
• Air –> larynx
• Food + fluid –> laryngopharynx
Where does auditory tube open into?
Nasopharynx
Name the 3 folds/arches raised by the longitudinal muscles that elevate the pharynx and larynx
- Palatoglossal fold (margin of oropharyngeal isthmus)
- Salpingopharyngeal fold
- Palatopharyngeal arch (overlies palatopharyngeus muscle)
What is the piriform fossa between?
- Quadrangular membrane of larynx
* Side wall of pharynx
What is the laryngeal inlet between?
Aryepiglottic folds
Where are foreign bodies like fish bones easily stuck in?
Piriform fossa
What holds the nasopharynx open?
Pharyngobasilar fascia
What is the function of the 3 pharyngeal constrictors (superior, middle and inferior)?
Squeeze bolus towards oesophagus
What is the function of elevators?
Lift pharynx and receive bolus
What does simultaneous laryngeal elevation do?
For closure and airway protection during swallowing
What are the 4 points of pharyngeal attachment (base of skull)?
- Medial pterygoid plate of sphenoid
- Pharyngobasilar fascia attaches to the cartilage of the auditory tube
- Levator Palati arises from the apex of the petrous temporal bone, inside is the pharyngeal attachment
- Pharyngobasilar fascia, and the posterior midline pharyngeal raphe formed by the constrictors attach to the pharyngeal tubercle
Attachments of stylohyoid ligament
Lesser horn to suspend the hyoid (therefore pharynx and larynx) from the styloid process of the skull
Attachment of pharyngobasilar fascia?
Medial pterygoid plate (posterior nasal china) internal to the attachment of the superior pharyngeal constrictor
What does superior pharyngeal constrictor continue and form?
Form pterygomandibular raphe with the buccinator - continuity between oral cavity and pharynx
Attachments of middle pharyngeal constrictor?
- Hyoid bone (greater and lesser horns)
2. Stylohyoid ligament
Attachments of inferior pharyngeal constrictor?
- Oblique line of thyroid cartilage (thyropharyngeus)
- Cricoid cartilage
- Fascia on cricothyroid
Nerves and vessels pierce … membrane in pharynx
Thyrohyoid membrane
Function of palatopharyngeal sphincter?
Separates the nasopharynx from oropharynx during swallowing
What structures enter the oral cavity, pharynx and larynx through potential spaces/ “gaps”?
- Internal branch of superior laryngeal nerve with superior laryngeal vessels
- Recurrent laryngeal nerve with inferior laryngeal vessels
What does the glossopharyngeal cranial nerve (IX) supply?
- Stylopharyngeus
2. Sends a branch deep to hyoglossus (doesn’t supply it) to reach posterior 1/3 of tongue and oropharynx
What 2 nerves and duct enter between mylohyoid and hyoglossus in the pharynx?
- Lingual nerve (V3)
- Hypoglossal cranial nerve (XII)
- Submandibular duct