Pharynx Flashcards by Beth Lee

What muscle forms the UES? (upper esophageal sphincter)

Cricopharyngeus

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What is the function of all of the pharyngeal constrictor muscles?

Constrict the pharynx…

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What are the origins of the superior pharyngeal constrictor muscle?

Pterygomandibular Raphe
Pterygoid Hamulus
Mylohyoid line of mandible

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What are the 2 insertion points of the superior pharyngeal constrictor?

Pharyngeal raphe

- Pharyngeal tubercle of the occipital bone

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What nerve innervates all of the 3 pharyngeal constrictor muscles?

CN X - Vagus

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What are the origins of the middle pharyngeal constrictor?

Greater and lesser horns of the hyoid bone

- Stylohyoid ligament

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What is the origin of the inferior pharyngeal constrictor muscle?

Oblique line of thyroid cartilage

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The pharyngeal tonsils (adenoids) are located in what part of the pharynx?

Roof of the Nasopharynx

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What are the choanae?

The entrances to the pharynx from the nasal cavity on either side of the nasal septum.

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What is the torus tubaris?

An elevation where the mucosa covers the cartilaginous portion of the auditory tube.

Located on either side of the nasopharynx

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What muscle attaches to the auditory tube?

Salpingopharyngeus muscle beneath the salpingopharyngeus fold

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What recess is contained within the nasopharynx? (potential space for things to get stuck)

Pharyngeal recesses on either side of each choana, above the torus tubaruis.

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The nasopharynx is the space between the _________ and ___________?

Nasopharynx = from base of the skull to the palate.

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THe oropharynx is the space between the ________ and _______?

From the palate to the hyoid bone

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In what subdivision of the pharynx do the respiratory and digestive systems cross?

Oropharynx

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What physical structure prevents the confluence of the digestive and respiratory systems?

Epiglottis

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What marks the boundary between the oral cavity and the oropharynx?

The palatoglossal fold covering the palatoglossal muscle.

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What muscles do the palatine tonsils lie between?

Anterior to the tonsils- palatoglossal muscle w/ fold

Posterior to the tonsils- palatopharyngeus muscle w/ palatopharyngeal fold.

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What fold connects the pharynx and the epiglottis?

pharyngoepiglottic fold

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What is the most inferior subdivision of the pharynx called?

THe laryngopharynx or hypopharynx

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What is the most likely place for things to get stuck in the pharynx?

In the PIRIFORM RECESSES on either side of the criocoid cartilage

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What nerve runs under the piriform recess?

The superior laryngeal nerve

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What nerves compass the pharyngeal plexus?

CN IX (Glossopharyngeal)
CN X (Vagus)
Postganglionic sympathetic fibers from superior cervical ganglion

CN 9,10, and 11 exit the skull through which hole?

Jugular Foramen

Both CN IX and CN X have _________ which contain the cell bodies of the SENSORY FIBERS from each nerve.

Superior and Inferior Ganglia

THe superior and inferior ganglia of CN IX and X are located where, respectively?

Superior- Inside cranial Cavity Inferior- Outside cranial cavity

What muscle develops from the 3rd pharyngeal arch and what nerve innervates it?

Stylopharyngeus muscle innervated by CN IX

What type of nerve fibers innervate the stylopharyngeus muscle?

Brachiomeric Motor fibers from CN IX

Describe the pathway of the glossopharyngeal nerve. (CN IX)

- Exits the Jugular Foramen - Passes laterally to the stylopharyngeus muscle and innervates it with BE fibers (3rd arch) - Runs through the gap between the superior and middle constrictor muscles to enter the tongue. - Tonsilar and lingual branches - Also provides pharyngeal branches that contribute to the pharyngeal plexus

What types of fibers are contained within the tonsilar and lingual branches of the glossopharyngeal (CN IX) nerve? Where are their cell bodes located?

SA - special sensory- TASTE to posterior 1/3 of tongue GSA - general sensory from the post 1/3 of tongue and tonsillar bed. Cell bodies are located within the SUPERIOR AND INFERIOR GANGLIA. (sensory fibers = pseudo unipolar)

What types of fibers run in the pharyngeal branches of the glossopharyngeal nerve? (CN IX)

GSA- sensory from the naso and oropharynx

What nerve provides afferent sensory innervation from the laryngopharynx?

Vagus (CNX)

What kind of sensory receptors does the carotid BODY have? What innervates it?

Carotid Body = chemoreceptors (O2 specifically) Innervated by Glossopharyngeal and Vagus

What kind of sensory info does the carotid SINUS provide and what innervates it?

Baroreceptors - Glossopharyngeal nerve

What types of fibers innervate the carotid body and sinus through CN IX and X?

GVA

Motor innervation to all other pharyngeal muscles (except the stylopharyngeus) is from what nerve?

Vagus (CN X)

THe only somatic motor branch of CN IX innervates what?

Stylopharyngeus muscle. (BE branch from glossopharyngeal nerve)

Mucosal glands in the pharynx are innervated by what nerve?

Vagus

If a pencil penetrates the back of your mouth and infection occurs, where can this infection spread?

Begins in the lateral pharyngeal space, which communicates with the retropharyngeal space, to the mediastinum. No bueno.

What is the purpose of making a patient say "ah"?

to test the function of the nerves. GAG REFLEX ha.

The tonsillar pillars (folds surrounding the tonsils, covering muscles of the same names) are called what?

Palatoglossal and Palatopharyngeal folds

WHere on the epiglottis can things get stuck?

Vallecula "little valleys" on the anterior surface

What connects the epiglottis to the tongue?

median and lateral glossoepiglottic folds

What division of the pharynx conducts sound?

Laryngopharynx

Where do the retropharyngeal lymph nodes drain?

Deep cervical lymph nodes

What is the giant lymph node that swells when you have a cold or a upper respiratory infection?

Jugulodigastric node. (located at the intersection of the internal jugular vein and the posterior belly of the digastric muscle.

Lymph from the palatine tonsils, and the rest of the nasopharynx drains into…..

the Jugulodigastric node.

Where does the Pharynx begin, and at what vertebral level does it end?

Begins at the base of the skull and runs to C6

Name the 3 longitudinal muscles of the pharynx

Stylopharyngeus Salpingopharyngeus Palatopharyngeus

What is the uppermost attachment of the pharyngeal raphe?

The pharyngeal tubercle in the temporal bone

What specialization of the superior constrictor muscle aids in closing off the nasopharynx when swallowing?

THe palatopharyngeal sphincter

Which of the longitudinal pharynx muscles runs in between the superior and middle constrictors.

Stylopharyngeus

Which longitudinal pharyngeal muscle originates on the auditory tube?

Salpingopharyngeus

What is the function of the longitudinal pharyngeal muscles?

To elevate the pharynx and close the oropharyngeal ithsmus.

WTF is the oropharyngeal ithsmus?

The opening between the oral cavity and the pharynx.