Pharynx & Larynx Flashcards
What are functions of the orofacial?
Breathing
Accommodates eating
Smell
Swallowing
Taste
Vocalization
The uppermost part of the GI tract is continuous w/
esophagus
Where is the nasopharynx located & what does it communicate w/ anteriorly?
Base of the skull to soft palate
Communicates anteriorly w/ posterior nasal aperture (choanae)
What are the 6 contents within the nasopharynx?
- Opening of auditory tube
- Choanae
- Torus tubarius
- Salpingopharyngeal fold
- Pharyngeal & tubal tonsils (=ADENOIDS)
- Pharyngeal recess
Where is the oropharynx located & what does it communicate w/ anteriorly?
- Soft palate to upper border of epiglottis
- Communicates anteriorly w/ oral cavity through arches of palate
What are the 3 contents of the oropharynx?
- arches of the palate
- soft palate & uvula
- Fauces
What are the arches of the palate?
Palatoglossal arch (fold)
Palatopharyngeal arch (fold)
Palatine tonsils
What muscle is associated w/ the palatoglossal arch & palatopharyngeal arch?
- Palatoglossal arch (fold) –> Palatoglossal muscle is underneath
- Palatopharyngeal arch (fold) –> Over palatopharyngeal muscle
Describe fauces
- Content of the oropharynx
- The area where the oral cavity is continuous w/ oral pharynx
- Plane separating oropharynx & laryngopharynx
Where is the laryngopharynx located & what does it communicate w/?
- Extends from cranial border of epiglottis to esophagus
- Communicates w/ larynx
What are the 4 contents of the laryngopharynx?
- Laryngeal inlet
- Epiglottis
- Piriform recess
- Vallecula
What makes up the pharynx?
Nasopharynx
Oropharynx
Laryngopharynx
Structure of the pharynx from internal to external
Where is the fibrous layer of the pharynx visible?
Visible in gap between superior constrictor muscle & base of skull
What are the longitudinal & constrictor muscles of the muscular layer of the pharynx?
Longitudinal (more internal) muscles:
- Stylopharyngeus
- Palatopharyngeus
- Salpingopharyngeus
Constrictor (more external) muscles:
- Superior constrictor
- Middle constrictor
- Inferior constrictor
Define obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)
during sleep, gravity & muscle relaxation allows tongue & surrounding soft tissues to fall back into throat area obstructing air flow
___ is created by all 4 tonsil type. What are the 4 tonsil types?
Waldeyer’s ring
Pharyngeal tonsils
Tubal tonsils
Palatine tonsils
Lingual tonsils
___ & ___ size & position impacts airway size & ability to be open
tongue & tonsil
___ & ___ also assist in elevating & dilating the pharynx along w/ the longitudinal & constrictor muscles
tensor veli palatini (T) & levator veli palatini (L)
What does the areolar layer of the pharynx contain?
contains the pharyngeal plexus of nerves & veins
Describe the genioglossus muscle
a tongue muscle; helps keep airway open; elevator & dilator of pharynx
- Not a pharyngeal muscle
What muscles are elevators & dilators of the pharynx?
Genioglossus m
Suprahyoid & infrahyoid muscle
The ___ inferiorly blends w/ fibrous pericardium
Pretracheal/buccopharyngeal fascia:
the retropharyngeal space is bounded anteriorly by ___ & posteriorly by ___. It begins at the base of the skull & ends inferiorly at ___
- Bounded anteriorly by pharyngeal constrictor muscles & retropharyngeal fascia & posteriorly by alar fascia
- Begins at base of skull & ends inferiorly at variable point between C6 & T4
What are the arteries that go into the pharynx?
ascending pharyngeal artery, lingual artery, facial artery, maxillary artery, & greater palatine artery
CN’s that innervate nasopharynx, oropharynx, & laryngopharynx
CN V2 to nasopharynx
CN IX to oropharynx
CN X to laryngopharynx
Pharyngeal plexus receives contributions from
CN V2, CN IX, & X
Autonomics for pharyngeal plexus include parasympathetics from ___ & sympathetics from ___
CN X
sympathetic trunk
Functions of glossopharyngeal nerve in pharynx
- Conveys BP from carotid sinus
- Tells us that carotid body has chemoreceptors (O2 deficiency, excess CO2, pH)
- Conveys information back to the brain & AP comes along motor branch of glossopharyngeal to activate the stylopharyngeus to open the airway
- Sends messages to hypoglossal to protrude the tongue
- Secretomotor (parasympathetic) to parotid
Vagus nerve provides motor to what muscles in the soft palate & pharynx dilators?
Levator veli palatini
Musculus uvulae
Palalatoglossus
Palatopharyngeus
Salpingopharyngeus
Vagus nerve provides motor to what pharyngeal constrictor muscles?
Superior, middle, & inferior
Elevators & dilators of the pharynx are innervated by ___, expect: (what 3 muscles aren’t & what are they innervated by?)
CN X
Genioglossus muscle → CN XII
Tensor veli palatini muscle → CN V3
Stylopharyngeus muscle → CN IX
Function of larynx
- Act as valve to guard air passage (especially during swallowing)
- Protects lower airway
- Maintain patent airway
- Vocalization
4 types of cartilage in the larynx
Thyroid cartilage, cricoid cartilage, tracheal cartilage, arytenoid cartilage
name of the 2 cavities surrounding the vocal cords
Supraglottic cavity - area above vocal cords
Infraglottic cavity - area below vocal cords
What are the 4 intrinsic muscles of the larynx?
Posterior cricoarytenoid
Thyroarytenoid
Vocalis
Cricothyroid
Function of posterior cricoarytenoid. What happens if it’s injured to 1 or both sides?
abducts/opens vocal folds
Only laryngeal muscles that abducts vocal cords
If paralyzed on both sides, it closes airway (asphyciation/suffocation)
Damaged on 1 side = hoarse voice
Function of thyroartenoid, vocalis, & cricothyroid. What happens if 1 of them is injured?
- Thyroarytenoid - relaxes/closes
- Vocalis - tightens
- Cricothyroid - tilts cricoid cartilage on thyroid cartilage & tightens
if any of the relaxes/constrictors is damaged, it has no effect b/c there’s other muscles to take over
What are the intrinsic muscles of the larynx innervated by?
recurrent laryngeal nerve, EXCEPT for cricothyroid (it’s innervated by external branch of superior laryngeal n.)
Gag reflex is due to ? What is the sensory & motor input innervated by?
- due to object placed on surface of posterior ⅓ of tongue or posterior oropharynx in absence of act of swallowing
- Sensory input: CN IX
- Motor response: CN X
define protective reflex
to prevent foreign matter from entering
cough reflex involves a reflexive contraction of what muscles?
pharyngeal muscles, diaphragm & external intercostal muscles
cough reflex is triggered by stimulation of
sensory nerves in larynx, trachea & larger bronchi (vagus n.) & internal branch of recurrent laryngeal n.
