Anatomy of the pharynx Flashcards
Main functions of pharynx?
Speech and swallowing
Act as sphincters
What are the 4 layers of the wall of the pharynx?
Areolar, muscular, sub mucous, mucous
Which coat contains the muscles of the wall of the pharynx?
Muscular layer
What are the circular muscles of the pharynx?
Constrictor muscles.
Superior constrictor
Middle constrictor
Inferior constrictor
What are the attachments of superior constrictor?
From pterygomadnibular raphe it fans out posteriorly to pharyngeal raphe which is anchored to the pharyngeal tubercle.
Superiorly attached to pharyngobasilar fascia
What shares its origin with superior constrictor?
Buccinator
What are all the constrictor muscles attached to posteriorly?
Pharyngeal raphe
What are the attachments of middles constrictor?
From greater and lesser horns of hyoid bone and stylohyoid ligament (the inferior part), fans our posteriorly to pharyngeal raphe. It overlaps superior constrictor
What are the attachments of inferior constrictor?
From the lateral aspect of thyroid and cricoid cartilages, fans out posteriorly to pharyngeal raphe
What is the inferior part of the inferior constrictor known as?
Cricopharyngeus
What is the superior part of the inferior constrictor known as?
Thyropharyngeus
Other than constrictor muscles what other muscles are found int he wall of the pharynx?
Longitudinal muscles (lengthen)
Name the longitudinal muscles
Palatopharyngeus, Stylopharyngeus,
Salpingopharyngeus
What muscle is Stylopharyngeus deep to?
Middle constrictor
What is the motor innervation of constrictor muscles?
Pharyngeal plexus from X
What is the motor innervation of the longitudinal muscles?
Palatopharyngeus = X Stylopharyngeus = IX Salpingopharyngeus = X
What lines the interior pharynx?
Mucosa
What are the compartments of the interior pharynx?
Nasopharynx, oropharynx, laryngopharynx
Where is the nasopharynx found?
Between the base of the skull and the soft palate
What are the contents fo the nasopharynx?
Opening of the auditory tube
Salpingopharyngeal fold (small muscle covered in mucous)
Pharyngeal recess
Pharyngeal tonsils/ adenoids
What is the salpingopharyngeal fold?
A small muscle (salpingopharyngeus) that is covered in mucous
What is the pharyngeal recess?
Vertical cleft between salpingopharyngeal fold and posterior wall of pharynx
What are the attachments of salpingopharyngeus?
Opening of auditory tube and blends into palatopharyngeus
Where is the oropharynx found?
Between soft palate and floor of oral cavity
When the soft palate is at rest:
a) nasopharynx and oropharynx are closed off from each other
b) nasopharynx and oropharynx communicate with each other
b
When is the soft palate raised?
Swallowing
When the soft palate is raised:
a) it forms a seal between the oropharynx and nasopharynx
b) it allows the oropharynx and nasopharynx to communicate
a
What are the contents of the oropharynx?
Palatoglossal arch, palatopharyngeal arch,
palatine tonsil
Where is the palatine tonsil found?
Between the palatoglossal and palatopharyngeal arches
Which is larger and more posterior?
a) palatophayrngeal arch
b) palatoglossal arch
a
What layer of fascia is deep to the palatine tonsil?
Pharyngobasilar fascia
What does pharyngobasilar fascia form the superior attachment of?
Superior constrictor
What is the function of the pharyngobasilar fascia?
Keeps airway open at rest
What does pharyngobasilar fascia lie upon?
Superior constrictor, palatoglossus, styloglossus and IX
Where is the laryngopharynx located?
Between the superior border of the epiglottis and the inferior border of the cricoid cartilage (C6)
What is the function of epiglottis?
Guards the opening of the larynx - closes windpipe whilst eating so don’t inhale food
What are the glossoepiglottic folds?
Attach epiglottis to tongue
What are the valleculae?
2 small depressions either side of glossoepiglottic folds
Where is the piriform recess?
Between the lateral gloss epiglottic fold and side of the pharynx
What is the main sensory innervation fo the pharynx?
IX
What provides sensory innervation to soft palate and pharyngeal roof?
V2 - lesser palatine
What provides sensory innervation around the laryngeal inlet?
X
What provides the arterial supply to the pharynx?
Ascending pharyngeal, superior thyroid, inferior thyroid.
Soft palate and tonsils supplied by branches of facial and maxillary aswell
What is the ascending pharyngeal artery a branch of?
External carotid
What is the superior thyroid artery a branch of?
External carotid artery
What is inferior thyroid artery a branch of?
Thyrocervical trunk (subclavian)
What is the venous drainage of the pharynx?
Pharyngeal venous plexus which drains into internal jugular vein
