Pharynx and Pre-vertebral Flashcards
Pharynx
Shape
Upper funnel end shaped at base of skull - joins oesophagus at C6
Pharynx
Mucous membrane
Nasal, mouth, larynx, tympanic cavity
Pharynx
Ciliated columnar epithelium
Superiorly to stratified squamous inferiorly
Pharynx
Fibrous layer
Under epithelium - connects to base of skull and into submucous coat of oesophagus
Pharynx
Muscular layer
Under fibrous layer and has almost circular constrictor muscles and longitudinal muscles
Pharynx Divisions
Nasopharynx
Position
Behind nasal cavities, above soft palate
Nasopharynx
Boundaries
Roof - Sphenoid, occipital and pharyngeal tonsil
Floor - Soft palate - pharyngeal isthmus
Anterior - Nasal passages
Posterior - Roof and CI level
Lateral - Auditory/Eustacian tube, salpingopharyngeal fold
Oropharynx
Position
From soft palate to upper border of epiglottis
Oropharynx
Boundaries
Roof - soft palate
Floor - Posterior third of tongue, lingual tonsil and glossoepigottic folds
Anterior - Mouth
Posterior - C2/3 level
Lateral - Palatoglossal and palatopharyngeal folds with palatine tonsil
Palatoglossus, palatine tonsil and palatopharyngeus
Laryngopharynx
Position
Behind larynx and laryngeal opening
Laryngopharynx
Boundaries
Anterior - Larynx
Posterior - C vertebrae 3-6
Lateral - Supported by thyroid cartilage, aryepiglottic fold and thyrohyoid membrane
Superior Constrictor
Attachments
Lower part (posterior) medial pterygoid plate, hamulus, pterygomandibular ligament, mandible, side of tongue
To pharyngeal tubercle of occipital bone, fibrous raphe and middle constrictor
Superior Constrictor
Function
Upper fibres pull posterior pharyngeal wall anteriorly to close off nasopharynx
Propel food to middle constrictor.
Superior Constrictor
Innervation
Pharyngeal plexus (vagus)
Middle Constrictor
Attachments
Lower part of the stylohyoid ligament to the greater and lesser cornua of the hyoid bone
To raphe but also blend with superior and inferior constrictor
Middle Constrictor
Function
Propel food towards inferior constrictor
Middle Constrictor
Innervation
Pharyngeal plexus (vagus)
Inferior Constrictor
Attachments
Lamina of thyroid cartilage and cricoid cartilage
To raphe and blend with middle constrictor and oesophagus