Lecture 31 - Pharynx and Soft Palate

Question 1

From the base of the skull downwards, what are the parts of the Pharynx?

Answer 1

Nasopharynx

Oropharynx

Laryngopharynx - c6 is lower border of cricoid cartilage

Question 2

The muscles of the pharynx essentially…

Answer 2

close the posterior aspect of the nose mouth and larynx

Question 3

What fascia runs deep to the pharynx muscles?

Answer 3

pharyngobasilar fascia - exposed in some areas

Question 4

What are the constrictors and what is their role?

Answer 4

Contract sequentially during swallowing

Superior constrictor msucle - attaches to raphe over buccinator msucle

middle constrictor muscle - attachments along the hyoid bone

Inferior constrictor msucle - lamina of the thyoid cartialge

Question 5

What is the Median raphe?

Answer 5

The posterior meeting point of the sling-like muscles from each side

Question 6

cricopharngeus can be described as the lower part of ____ _____ ____ - functionally it does the same thing

Answer 6

inferior constrictor muscle - but gets a seperate branch from Vagus

Question 7

What are the internal layer of muscles?

Answer 7

Saplinopharyngeus - attaches from opening of auditory tube down towards the pharynx

palatopharyngeus - attched to the soft palate contraction depresses the palate

stylopharyngeus - attached to styoid process (just anterior to the mastoid process), contraction elevates pharynx

Question 8

the roof of the nasopharynx is formed by..

Answer 8

the body of the sphenoid

Question 9

Contraction of the saplingopharyngeus causes..

Answer 9

pull the opening of the auditory tube - opens just enough to allow pressure equalisation

Question 10

The tubule elevation is the…

Answer 10

mucosa over the top of the cartilagenous auditory tube

Question 11

A swollen (adenoid) tonsil will change what,

Answer 11

the resonance of speech

can block airways

Question 12

What are the borders of the oropharynx?

Answer 12

Superior: soft palate (with uvula)

posterior - superior constrictor muscle

lateral: palato-pharyngeal arch and palatoglossal arch, with palatine tonsil in between
floor: posterior 1/3 of tongue and eipglottis (including the space between them = vallecula)

Question 13

palato-pharyngeal arch and palatoglossal arch are lined by,..

Answer 13

mucosa - over the top of palato-pharyngeal and palatoglossal muscle respectively

Question 14

From the palatoglossal arch backwards is..

Answer 14

oropharynx

Question 15

The epiglottis is pushed _______ when swallowing

Answer 15

posteriorly - its just cartilagenous

Question 16

just lateral to the Ayepiglottic fold is a channel to allow liquid to pass over the larygeal inlet, what is it called?

Answer 16

piriform recess - fluid spills out over it (there isn’t enough force to push the epiglottis down itself)

Question 17

The entire pharynx is innerved by…

Answer 17

CN9 (glossopharyngeal nerve)

Question 18

Each area of the pharynx gets a reinforcement by the neighbouring sensory innervation, what are these?

Answer 18

superiorly, CNV2 - maxillary division

Vagus inferiorly (internal laryngeal nerve)

Question 19

What is the nerve supply of the mucosa (sensory ) in the middle ear?

Answer 19

Gloosopharyngeal - it is originally an outpouching of the area, essentially an extension of the nasopharynx

Question 20

What innervates most of the msucles in the pharynx, what is the exception?

Answer 20

pharyngeal braacnhes of Vagus

Except Sytlopharyngeus (CN9) - glossopharyngeal

Question 21

What forms the soft palate?

Answer 21

muscle from midline - musculus uvulae - atached my the palatine aponeurosis to the hard palate (in particular the horizontal plate of the palatine bones)

Question 22

True or False

The soft palate has a mucous membrane all around it

Answer 22

true

Question 23

What is the function of the soft palate?

Answer 23

Seals nasal cavity during swallowing and coughing

Helps seal oral cavity during chewing to allow unimpeded breathing - Helps with sucking

Question 24

Which 5 muscles support the structure of the soft palate?

Answer 24

Superiorly: Tensor veli palatini
Levator veli palatini - come in and attach from the lateral aspect, contraction causes elevation (work together) - also help with auditory tube

palatoglossus and palatopharygeus are the depressors of the soft palate

all these are considered pharyngeal muscles and hence are supplied by Vagus - one exception

Question 25

what innervated the 5 muscles that support the structure of the soft palate?

Answer 25

all these are considered pharyngeal muscles and hence are supplied by Vagus -

one exception being Tensor veli palatini - trigeminal (t=for tensor, t=for trigeminal)

Question 26

What is the fauces?

Answer 26

The space at the back of the oral cavity leading into the pharynx - food and air go through

Question 27

What is waldeyer’s ring?

Answer 27

Incomplete ring of lymphoid tissue:

Pahryngeal

Tubal

Palatine (important in priming the immune system but less important later on)

Lingual - on tongue

Question 28

Swallowing is a serioues of contractions of muscles of the tongue, soft palate and pharynx t get a bolus of food frm our mouth into our stomach

What are the steps?

Answer 28

Phase 1:
1. Bolus is shaped and pushed by the tongue to the palate

2. Soft palate descends and palatal arches are aprroximated t grip and push the bolus into the oropharynx

Phase 2 - protect the nasal cavity:
3. Soft palate elevated and tightened to prevent bolus entering nasal cavity

4. Larynx and pharynx elevated to bring bolus closer to oesophagus
5. Laryngeal inlet closed to prevent bolus from entering trachea

Phase 3:
6. bolus is pushed down the oropharynx and over the epiglottis

7. Bolus forced down through laryngopharynx and into oesophagus
8. Larynx depressed to return to normal position (mainly by elastic recoil)