Pharynx Flashcards
What are the superior and inferior extents of the pharynx?
Skull base and cricoid cartilage (C6)
What types of muscle are found in the pharynx?
Circular and longitudinal
What is the border between the nasopharynx and the oropharynx?
Soft palate
What is the border between the oropharynx and the laryngopharynx?
Epiglottis
What muscles line the entire posterior wall of the pharynx?
Pharyngeal constrictor muscles
There are five layers to the pharynx, what are they?
- Mucosa
- Submucosa
- Pharyngobasilar fascia
- Muscular layer
- Buccopharyngeal fascia
The _______ is an opening found in the nasopharynx. It is surrounded by a cartilaginous structure called the _______.
- Auditory tube orifice
2. Torus tubarius
In which part of the pharynx is the pharyngeal tonsil found?
In the nasopharynx
The ______ is a thin fold covering a muscle extending inferiorly from the torus tubarius?
Salpingopharyngeal fold
What structure serves as the anterior margin of the oropharynx?
Palatoglossal arch
What structure is found between the palatoglossal arch and the palatopharyngeal arch?
Palatine tonsils
What two structures create the vallecula?
Root of tongue and epiglottis
What is the significance of the vallecula?
Pocket that prevents saliva from entering trachea
Which arch is part of the lateral wall of the oropharyngeal isthmus?
Palatopharyngeal arch
T/F: The root of the tongue is mobile.
FALSE
Immobile
What special muscular structure is found on the deep surface of the superior constrictor and what is its purpose?
Palatopharyngeal sphincter.
Closes off the nasopharynx when swallowing
What is the major function of the laryngopharynx?
Properly send food into the esophagus while bypassing the trachea
What two nerves are found in the laryngopharynx?
- Internal laryngeal nerve: descends
2. Recurrent laryngeal nerve: ascends
What artery runs with the internal laryngeal nerve?
Superior laryngeal artery
What artery runs with the recurrent laryngeal nerve?
Inferior laryngeal artery
What is the special part of the inferior pharyngeal constrictor that acts as a sphincter?
Cricopharyngeus muscle
What is the structure in the posterior portion of the laryngopharynx that legos get stuck in?
Piriform fossa (recess)
What structure runs down the posterior midline and serves as the posterior attachment for all the pharyngeal constrictors?
Pharyngeal raphe
What are the anterolateral attachments for the superior constrictors?
- Pterygomandibular raphe
- Pterygoid hamulus
- Medial plate of pterygoid process
- Pharygeal tubercle
