Anatomy-Pharynx

Question 1

What are the structure indicated below?

Answer 1

1) Anterior hard palate: maxilla (palatine processes) 2) Posterior hard palate: palatine (horizontal palatine bones) 3) Medial pterygoid plate 4) Pharyngeal tubercle 5) Styloid process

Question 2

Why is the pharynx consider both a part of the respiratory system and a part of the digestive system?

Answer 2

It extends from the base of the skull to the cricoid cartilage near the C6 vertebrae and communicates with all cavities on its way down.

Question 3

What are the four layers of the pharynx?

Answer 3

1) Mucous membrane 2) Pharyngobasilar Fascia 3) Muscular layer 4) Buccopharyngeal fascia

Question 4

What separates the buccopharyngeal fascia from the pre vertebral fascia?

Answer 4

The potential retropharyngeal space

Question 5

The pharynx has 6 pairs of muscles. What are the 3 external pairs of muscles?

Answer 5

1) Superior constrictors insert on the pharyngeal tubercle and median pharyngeal raphe 2) Superficial to the superior constrictors are the middle constrictors which insert on the the median raphe 3) Superficial to the middle constrictors are the inferior constrictors which insert on the median raphe.

Question 6

The pharynx has 6 pairs of muscles. What are the 3 internal pairs of muscles?

Answer 6

1) Salpingopharyngeus, arises from auditory tube and blends into the body of the pharynx, ending at the thyroid cartilage 2) Palatopharyngeus, arises from the soft palate and blends into the body of the pharynx wall, ending at the thyroid cartilage 3) Stylopharyngeus, arises from the styloid process and travels through the middle and inferior constrictors on its way down to the thyroid cartilage

Question 7

What are most muscles in the pharynx innervated by (motor and sensory)?

Answer 7

Motor: CN X (except for the stylopharyngeus, which is innervated by CN IX). Sensory: CN IX

Question 8

What muscle is responsible for opening the auditory tube to equalize pressure when you swallow?

Answer 8

Salpingopharyngeus muscle

Question 9

Failure of what muscle to flex causes milk to shoot out of your nose when you laugh?

Answer 9

Palatopharyngeus muscle. It forms a horizontal stiff border along the soft palate when flexed.

Question 10

What is the main function of the internal pharyngeal muscles?

Answer 10

Elevate the pharynx and larynx when swallowing

Question 11

Where do all of the constrictors originate from?

Answer 11

1) Superior constrictor: hamulus, pterygomadubular raphe and tongue. 2) Middle constrictor: hyoid bone 3) Inferior constrictor: cricoid and thyroid cartilage

Question 12

What is the clinical significance of the region indicated below?

Answer 12

This is Killian’s dehiscence. It is a gap between the cricopharyngeus muscle and the inferior constrictor. A larger gap can allow food to accumulate in it.

Question 13

What muscles work to help you swallow a nice swig of water?

Answer 13

A) Tongue rolls fluid back B) Palatopharyngeus flaps up C) External constrictors roll downward to push fluid down D) Internal constrictors elevate pharynx & larynx

Question 14

Does the epiglottis close on its own when you are drinking water?

Answer 14

No, the active elevation of the pharynx and larynx by the internal constrictors and depression by the tongue pushes it down.

Question 15

What structure is indicated below?

Answer 15

The glossopharyngeal nerve travels along stylopharyngeus to innervate the posterior 1/3 of the tongue

Question 16

Where do the internal and external laryngeal nerves come from?

Answer 16

The superior laryngeal nerve which is a branch off of the vagus nerve.

Question 17

What does the internal laryngeal nerve usually travel with?

Answer 17

The superior thyroid artery through the thyrohyoid membrane. Note that the nerve emerges between the inferior and middle constrictors.

Question 18

What nerve ascends beneath the inferior portion of the inferior constrictor?

Answer 18

Recurrent laryngeal nerve. This is where it becomes the inferior laryngeal nerve.

Question 19

What are the three parts of the interior pharynx?

Answer 19

1) Nasopharynx (base of skull to superior part of soft palate), 2) oropharynx (hyoid bone to base of epiglottis) and 3) laryngopharynx (base of epiglottis to lower border of cricoid cartilage)

Question 20

What do the adenoids come from?

Answer 20

Pharyngeal tonsils

Question 21

What structure is indicated below?

Answer 21

Salpingopharygeus longitudinal muscle, note that it is by the salpingopharyngeal fold

Question 22

What structure is indicated below?

Answer 22

This is torus tubarius, the region where the auditory tube comes in.

Question 23

What structure is indicated below?

Answer 23

Palatine tonsil. Note that it is just superior to the dorsum of the tongue.

Question 24

What structure is indicated below?

Answer 24

Piriform recesses formed by the cricoid cartilage bulge. Note that the internal laryngeal nerve travels through this space.

Question 25

What borders the laryngeal inlet?

Answer 25

Arytenoid cartilages and epiglottis

Question 26

Where does the pharyngeal plexus reside?

Answer 26

In the buccopharyngeal fascia

Question 27

Where does the pharynx get its blood supply from?

Answer 27

Ascending pharyngeal artery is the main supplier.

Question 28

Where does venous drainage go from the pharynx? Lymphoid drainage?

Answer 28

Internal jugular, lymphoid drainage follows the internal jugular.