Nasopharynx Flashcards
Location of nasopharynx
posterior to nasal cavity
superior to the soft palate
Pharyngotympanic Tube
Also known as Eustachian Tube
- from torus tubarium to middle ear
Adenoids
Pharyngeal Tonsils
- roof of the nasopharynx
Torus Tubarium
bump in the nasopharynx
Pharyngeal Constrictors
skeletal muscles
Vagus Nerve
provides motor to all constrictor muscles EXCEPT STYLOPHARYNGEUS
External Layer
constrict walls, elevate larynx
- made up of the superior, middle and inferior
Internal Layer
elevate, shorten, widen pharynx during swallowing and speaking
Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve
sensory below the vocal folds
- responsible for glottic closure
Superior Laryngeal Nerve
Internal Branch: sensory above the vocal folds
External Branch: motor to cricothyroid muscle and inferior pharyngeal constrictor
Sensation above and below the vocal folds
Vagus Nerve
Damage to Vagus Nerve
effects superiror layrngeal nerve and recurrent laryngeal nerve
Trigeminal Nerve
superior part of nasopharynx; anterior oral cavity
Glossopharyngeal Nerve
Posterior Oral Cavity
Pharyngeal Raphe
tendon; midline point of attachment for the constrictors on either side
Superior Pharyngeal Constrictor
-pulls up thyroid and elevates larynx
-completes the area of the oropharynx posteriorly
-attaches to the greater horn of the hyoid, oblique line of the thryoid cartilage
-attatches posterior by the pharyngeal tubercle
Stylopharyngeus
shortens and widens the pharynx when contracted; seperates the superior and middle constrictors
- ONLY EXCEPTION! innervated by the glossopharyngeal nerve
Middle Pharyngeal Constrictor
constrict the pharynx to deliver food to esophagus; works in coordination with the superior and inferior constrictors
- Pathway: pharyngeal raphe; greater horn of the hyoid
Inferior Pharyngeal Constrictor
constrict the pharynx to deliver food to the esophagus; works in coordination with supeior and inferior
-Pathway: pharyngeal raphe, goes anteriorly to the oblique line of the thyroid cartilage
- when contracted: larynx elevates
Cricopharyngeus Muscle (UES)
prevents reflux of food from esophagus back into the throat
- most inferior part of the inferior constrictor
Palatopharynges
shorten and widen pharynx and larynx during swallowing and speaking
- Pathway: soft palate to posterior pharyngeal wall
- Palatine Apenorousis: widen tendon of tensor veli palitini
Salpingopharyngeus
- Tiny muscle of the soft palate
- elevate, shorten, widen pharynx during swallowing and speaking
- Pathway: from eustachian tube to lateral wall of pharynx
- Origin: styloid process of temporal bone
