Lecture 19 - Pharynx and Larynx Flashcards
What is the origin of the pharynx and what are its subdivisions?
L19 S3
Originates between the rami of the mandible at the base of the cranium.
Subdivisions:
- nasopharynx: opens into nasal cavity
- oropharynx: opens into oral cavity
- hypoharynx: continues into larynx and esophagus
What are the borders and nearby landmarks of the nasopharynx?
L19 S4
Begins at nasal choanae.
Floor:
-soft palate
Superior border:
-basilar occipital bone
Posterior border:
-atlas
What features are associated with the nasopharynx? (4)
L19 S4-5
Auditory tube:
-opens into lateral walls
Torus tubaris:
-cartilaginous walls of nasopharynx
Salpingopharyngeus muscle:
- originates at end of auditory tube
- raises pharynx during swallowing
Pharyngeal tonsils (adenoids)
- located in posterior wall of nasopharynx
- regress by age of 8
What features are associated with the oropharynx? (2)
L19 S6
Faucial pillars:
- palatoglossus muslce
- palatopharnygeus muscle
Tonsillar fossae:
- contains palatine tonsils
- between superior and middle pharyngeal constrictors
- second pharyngeal pouch
What is the arterial supply of the tonsils?
L19 S7
Branches of:
- maxillary artery
- facial artery
- lingual artery
What is Waldeyer’s ring?
L19 S7
Ring of lymphoid tissue around pharynx and the tonsils.
Tonsils include:
- pharyngeal
- palatine
- tubal
- lingual
Describe the pharyngeal musculature and the features of each muscle.
L19 S8-11
All:
- meet posteriorly at pharyngeal raphe
- overlap constrictor muscles above
- are used in swallowing
Superior:
- attaches to pterygoid plate and mandibular/maxillary processes
- superior edge forms space for auditory tube
Middle:
- attaches to stylohyoid ligament and horns of hyoid bone
- separated from superior by gap containing stylopharyngeus muscle, branch of CN IX, and tonsilar branch of facial a.
Lower:
- attaches to pharyngeal raphe
- cricopharyngeus portion acts as sphincter for esophagus
Describe the palatopharyngeus muscle.
L19 S14
Origin:
-palate
Insertion:
-pharyngeal musculature
Action:
- sphincter between oral cavity and pharynx
- raises larynx during swallowing
Innervation:
CN X
Underlies faucial fold
Describe the salpingopharyngeus muslce.
L19 S15
Origin:
-torus tubaris (cartilaginous wall of nasopharynx)
Insertion:
-midpharynx musculature
Action:
-raises pharynx and larynx
Innervation:
-CN X
What is the innervation and blood supply of the pharynx?
L19 S17-18
Glossopharyngeal nerve (IX):
- nerve of third arch
- exits skull via jugular foramen
- enters between superior and middle pharyngeal muscles
- supplies stylopharyngeus muscle***
Vagus nerve (X):
- nerve of fourth (through sixth)
- supplies all pharyngeal musculature except stylopharyngeus muscle
Ascending pharyngeal artery
What structures form the larynx and what is its function?
L19 S20
Unpaired structures:
- hyoid bone
- thyroid cartilage
- cricoid cartilage
- epiglottis
Paired cartilage:
- arytenoid
- corniculate
- cuneiform
Function:
- closes airway during swallowing
- constricts airway for phonation
Describe the epiglottis and to associated structures.
L19 S22
Attached to:
- hyoid via hyoepiglotttic ligament
- thyroid cartilage via thyroepiglottic ligament
Folds:
- median glossoepiglottic fold
- lateral glossoepiglottic fold
Vallecular recesses:
- located on either side of the median glossoepiglottic fold bounded by the lateral glossoepiglottic folds
- common site for lodgement***
Piriform fossae:
-inferior to lateral glossoepiglotic folds***
What is the innervation for the epiglottis?
L19 S23
Glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX): -upper epiglottic surface
Superior laryngeal nerve (branch of CN X):
- taste buds of epiglottis
- sensation of lower epiglottic surface
- sensation of supraglottic larynx forming cough reflex
Describe the tyroid cartilage.
L19 S25
Features:
-superior thyroid notch (90º in males and 120º in females)
Membranes:
- thyrohyoid membrane
- cricothyroid membrane
At what vertebral level is the cricoid cartilage located?
L19 S25
C6
