Pharynx Flashcards
What level of the spinal cord is opposite the pharynx?
C6
What are it’s superior boundaries?
Base of the skull, including the posterior part of the body of the sphenoid and the basilar part of occipital bone in front of pharyngeal tubercle
What are its inferior boundaries?
Continuous with the oesophagus at the level of 6th cervical vertebra or lower border of cricoid cartilage
What are its posterior boundaries?
It glides freely on the Prevertebral fascia which separates it from the bodies of cervical vertebrae
What are its anterior boundaries?
Anterior wall is incomplete and it communicates with the nasal cavity, oral cavity and the larynx
What are its boundaries on either side?
It is attached to: medial pterygoid plate, pterygo-mandibular raphe, mandible, tongue, hyoid bone; and thyroid and cricoid cartilages
It communicates on each side with the middle ear through auditory tube
How is the cavity of the pharynx divided?
Nasal part or nasopharynx or epi-pharynx
Oral part or oropharynx or meso-pharynx
Laryngeal part or laryngopharynx or hypo-pharynx
What is the nasopharynx lined by?
ciliated columnar epithelium
What is the nasopharynx’s mucous membrane supplied by?
pharyngeal branch from pterygopalatine ganglion (V nerve); rest of the pharynx is supplied by IX and X nerves
What are the features of the nasopharynx?
Anteriorly it communicates with posterior nasal aperture
Inferiorly it communicates with the oropharynx at the pharyngeal isthmus (nasopharyngeal isthmus)
Pharyngeal isthmus is bounded in front by the lower border of soft palate and behind by the posterior wall of pharynx
How does the lateral wall of the nasopharynx present?
Pharyngeal opening of the auditory tube, which lies half inch behind the inferior nasal concha
Whta is the roof and posterior wall of the nasopharynx formed by?
posterior part of body of sphenoid, basiocciput and anterior arch of atlas
How does the oropharynx communicate?
Above it communicates with the nasopharynx through pharyngeal isthmus
In front communicates with oral cavity through oropharyngeal isthmus
What is the oropharynx supported by?
supported by body of axis and C3 vertebra
What is the wall of the oropharynx formed by?
all 3 constrictors
Where is the palatine tonsil located?
situated in the tonsillar fossa of the lateral wall of oropharynx
How is the palatine tonsil bounded?
Lies in tonsillar fossa. This fossa is bounded in front by the palatoglossal fold and behind by the palatopharyngeal fold
The 2 folds meet at the apex formed by the soft palate
How is the base of the tonsillar fossa formed?
The base of the fossa is formed by the dorsal surface of the posterior one third of the tongue
How is the laryngopharynx extend?
from the upper border of epiglottis to the lower border of cricoid cartilage
Where does the anterior wall of the laryngopharynx present?
The anterior wall presents inlet of larynx and posterior surface of cricoid and arytenoid cartilages
How is the posterior wall of the laryngopharynx supported?
Posterior wall is supported by body of C4,5 and lower part of C3 vertebrae
How does the lateral wall of the laryngopharynx present?
Lateral wall presents the piriform fossa; one on each side of the inlet of larynx
How is the piriform fossa bounded?
The fossa is bounded medially by the aryepiglottic fold and laterally by the thyroid cartilage and thyrohyoid membrane
What is deep to the mucosa of the piriform fossa?
internal laryngeal nerve
