Lecture 35 RH

Question 1

What are the boundaries of the pharynx?

Answer 1

From the base of the skull to the lower border of the cricoid cartilage (C6)

Question 2

What is the function of the pharynx?

Answer 2

Closes off the posterior aspect of the larynx, mouth, and nose.

Question 3

What structures close off the pharyngeal sling?

Answer 3

Sling is supported by a series of muscles and the pharyngobasilar fascia

Question 4

Where does the pharyngobasilar fascia perform its function?

Answer 4

continues all the way down the pharynx and forms a membrane around the pharynx.

Question 5

How can the pharyngobasilar fascia be seen?

Answer 5

Superiorly the muscles are deficient and at that location the pharyngobasilar can be seen

Question 6

What are the external muscles of the pharynx?

Answer 6

Superior constrictor

Middle constrictor

Inferior constrictor

Cricopharyngeus

Question 7

Where is the middle constrictor found?

Answer 7

largely along the surface of the hyoid bone meets at a median raphe posteriorly

Question 8

Why is cricopharyngeus often referred to as inferior part of the inferior constrictor?

Answer 8

Cricopharyngeus is often referred to as the inferior part of the inferior constrictor. It has a slightly different nerve supply (branches of vagus below compared to inferior constrictor which gets them from above.)

Question 9

What is the function of constrictor muscles in moving food from the mouth to the oesophagus?

Answer 9

constrictor muscles contract sequentially to push food towards the oesophagus.

Question 10

What are the internal muscles of the pharynx?

Answer 10

Salpingopharyngeus

Question 11

What is the function of salpingopharynx?

Answer 11

attaches from the auditory tube to the muscular wall of the pharynx

Question 12

What do the internal muscles of the pharynx do?

Answer 12

They elevate the pharynx and have other functions when the pharynx is fixed.

Question 13

Which muscle of the pharynx is innervated by the glossopharyngeal nerve (CN9)?

Answer 13

stylopharyngeus

Question 14

Where does the auditory tube open?

Answer 14

Into the nasopharynx

Question 15

What tonsils can be found in the pharynx?

Answer 15

Pharyngeal tonsils

Question 16

What forms the tubal elevation of the nasopharynx?

Answer 16

tubal elevation is formed by cartilaginous part of the auditory tube

Question 17

What does the salpingopharyngeus do to the auditory tube?

Answer 17

Salpingopharyngeus has an attachment to the cartilaginous part of the auditory tube. Contraction of this muscle opens up the auditory tube a bit more for the middle ear.

Question 18

What are the boundaries of the oropharynx?

Answer 18

roof is formed by the soft palate and the floor by the posterior 1/3rd of the tongue.

Question 19

Why is the posterior end of the tongue nodular?

Answer 19

Posterior end of the tongue mucosa is very nodular due to the lingual tonsils.

Question 20

How does food get mvoed into the oesophagus by the epiglottis?

Answer 20

As food comes down into the oral cavity it pushes down on the epiglottis and epiglottis pushes it down into the posterior tube (oesophagus).

Question 21

What are the arches of the oropharynx?

Answer 21

2 arches palatoglossal and palatopharyngeal arch. Between these arches are the palatine tonsils.

Question 22

What muscles does mucosa go over to create the arches?

Answer 22

palatoglossal muscle is one of the muscles of the tongue (innervated by vagus)

Palatopharyngeus

Question 23

How is the larynx closed from behind?

Answer 23

pharyngeal mucosa and contrictor muscles close the larynx from behind