Pharynx and Oesophagus Flashcards
What are the functions of the cervical viscera (neck organs)?
- Respiratory
- Endocrine
- Alimentary
What is the pharynx and where does it expand from?
- Muscular tube
- From base of skull to oesophagus (approx. C6)
How long is the pharynx?
12-15cm long approximately
What are the functions of the pharynx?
- Conducts air
- Muscles direct food to oesophagus
What are the 3 parts of the pharynx?
- Nasopharynx
- Oropharynx
- Laryngopharynx
What is the function of the nasopharynx?
Respiratory function
What duct is present in the nasopharynx?
Nasolacrimal duct
What is the function of the opening of the auditory tube?
- Makes sure the pressure of the back of the mouth is the same as the middle of the ear
What is found in the nasopharynx?
- Nasolacrimal duct
- Opening of auditory tube
- Tubal tonsils
- Pharyngeal tonsils
- Uvula
What are the tubal tonsils?
Examples of inflammatory cells - act as first line of defence
- Block and stop infection from going any further into body
- They are located within the mucosa around the opening of the auditory tube
What are pharyngeal tonsils?
- Inflammatory cells
What is the function of the uvula?
- Stops liquids from moving upwards
What is the function of the oropharynx?
Primarily digestive function
What are the boundaries of the oropharynx?
- Superior - soft palate
- Inferior - Base of tongue (epiglottis)
Where are the palatoglossal and palatopharyngeal arches found?
- In the oropharynx
- Palatoglossal - front
- Palatopharyngeal - back
- Role of folds is to protect the 3 tonsils
- Tonsils ae a collection of inflammatory cells
What does the Waldeyer’s ring consist of?
- Four tonsillar structures
- The pharyngeal, tubular, palatine and lingual tonsils as well as small collections of lymphatic tissue
What are the boundaries of the laryngopharynx?
- Superior - epiglottis
- Inferior - Level of cricoid cartilage (below thyroid cartilage)
Where is the piriform fossa located and what is it?
- Located in the laryngopharynx
- Danger area - things can get stuck and you can choke
- Swells if things get stuck so potentially life-threatening
How many constrictors are found in the pharynx and what are they called?
3 constrictors:
- Superior constrictor
- Middle constrictor
- Inferior constrictor
What is the hyoid bone?
- Only bone un the body which is not joined onto any other bone
- Function - to ensure the airway stays open
What are the 12 cranial nerves?
- Olfactory
- Optic
- Oculomotor
- Trochlear
- Trigeminal
- Abducens
- Facial
- Vestibulocochlear
- Glossopharyngeal
- Vagus
- Spinal accessory
- Hypoglossal
What nerve is the main motor nerve in the neck?
Vagus (CNX)
What nerve is the main sensory nerve in the neck?
Glossopharyngeal (CNIX)
What is the pharyngeal plexus?
A collection of the nerves supplying the neck
What is otitis media?
Middle ear infection
What is tonsillitis?
Swelling and infection of the tonsils
When doing a tonsillectomy what blood vessels and nerves must not be cut as a consequence of this is a massive haemorrhage?
- External palatine vein
- Tonsillar artery
- CN IX
- Internal carotid artery
What is the oesophagus and where does it extend from?
- Muscular tube
- From pharynx to stomach
Where does the oesophagus lie?
In the neck, thorax and abdomen
What is the oesophagus posterior to?
The trachea and the heart
What is a sphincter?
A ring of muscle surrounding and serving to guard or close an opening or tube
What are the 2 sphincters of the oesophagus
Upper oesophageal sphincter - muscle controlled
Lower oesophageal sphincter - physiological barrier arrangement
What epithelium is present in the oesophagus?
Stratified squamous - allows rapid turnover is cells are damaged, new cells will be available
What type of gland is found in the oesophagus?
Submucosal glands
What are the 2 muscle layers of the oesophagus?
C.I.L.O
- Inner circular
- Outer longitudinal
What are the 3 muscle types in the oesophagus and where are they found?
- Upper 1/3 - Skeletal (voluntary)
- Middle 1/3 - Mixed
- Lower 1/3 - Smooth (involuntary)
What does the lower oesophageal sphincter act as?
- A physiological sphincter
What is metaplasia?
Rapid change of epithelium from one form to another
What is dysplasia?
Pre-cancerous stage - epithelium has no proper structure
What id G.O.R.D?
Gastro oesophageal reflux disease
What are the 2 roles of swallowing?
- Moving food to the stomach
- Preventing food from entering the airway
What is the oral phase of swallowing?
- Food moved posteriorly
- Some can pass onto pharyngeal surface of tongue
- Liquid remains in the mouth in front of ‘pillars’
What is the pharyngeal phase of swallowing?
- Oro- to laryngopharynx
- Soft palate rises
- Depression of epiglottis
- Contraction of vocal folds
- Relaxation of upper oesophageal sphincter
What is the oesophageal phase of swallowing?
- Upper oesophageal sphincter constricts and bolus passes downwards
- Peristalsis drives bolus down oesophagus. Oesophagus constricts above bolus and dilates and shortens below it
- Lower oesophageal sphincter relaxes to admit bolus to stomach
What is dysphagia?
Difficulty swallowing
What is the symptom of dysphagia?
Difficulty swallowing
What are the possible causes of dysphagia?
- Neuromuscular disease (nerve and muscle problems)
- Obstructions
- strictures, spasm
- Tumours (30-50% reduction)
- Developmental abnormality
What is a fistula?
Abnormal communication between 2 epithelial lined surfaces
What is a trachea-oesophageal fistula?
- Oesophagus stops - doesn’t go all the way into the stomach
- If a baby has this they will vomit
- Can also cause chest infections
