Pharynx

Question 1

What is the pharynx

Which areas does it cover

Answer 1

Upper portion of alimetary canal
Cranial base => lower border of cricoid which leads into the esophagus

Mucosa lined muscular tube

Communicates with nasal, oral, laryngeal cavities

Question 2

Describe the nasopharynx

• location
• structures found here

Answer 2

Above soft palate behind nostrils

Floor = soft palate
Posterior wall = superior constrictor muscle
Lateral wall = auditory tube, adenoid lymphatic tissue

Question 3

Describe the oropharynx

• location
• structures found here

Answer 3

Inferior to soft palate behind oral cavity

Raised soft palate separates it from the nasopharynx

Anterior = palatoglossal palatopharyngeal arches. palatine tonsil

Palatine tonsil has v rich blood supply => lingual, asc pharyngeal, lesser palatine arteries
-threat during tonsillectomy

Question 4

Describe the 4 layers of the pharynx

Answer 4

Mucosa

Submucosa - tough fibrous coat, anchors pharynx to base of skull

Muscular - 5 pairs of muscles (outer semicircular, constrictors, 2 inner longitudinal)

Buccopharyngeal fascia - covers ext layer

Question 5

Describe how the constrictor muscles work

What is their nervous innervation

Answer 5

Peristalsis
Mainly supplied by pharyngeal branch of vagus
Inferior constrictor supplied by recurrent branch

Sup, middle, inf constrictor
Stylopharyngeus

Question 6

Describe the attachments of the constrictor muscles

Answer 6

Superior => pharyngeal raphe between mandible, pterygoid plate, pharyngeal tubercle on occipital

Middle => stylohyoid, hyoid horns to pharyngeal raphe

Inferior => oblique line of thyroid and cricoid cartilage to junction between pharynx, esophagus

Question 7

What are the longitudinal muscles
Where do they attach

What is their function

Answer 7

Palatopharyngeus
-palatal aponeurosis => posterolateral pharynx, hyoid, thyroid cartilage

Stylopharygeus
-styloid process => mix with palatopharyngeus

Raise pharynx and larynx when swallowing

Question 8

Describe the neurovasculature of the pharynx

• motor
• sensory
• blood supply
• venous drainage
• lymphatic drainage

Answer 8

Motor

• pharyngeal branch of vagus=> all muscles except stylopharyngeus
• IX => stylopharyngeus

Sensory

• IX => pharynx
• V3 => soft palate, pharynx roof
• X => pharygeal inlet

Artery
-asc pharyngeal, sup/inf thyroid, facial, maxillary => rich anastomosis

Veins
-pharyngeal plexus that communicated with pterygoid plexus

Lymphatics

• deep cervical nodes
• retropharyngeal