Pharynx & larynx Flashcards
What are the 3 parts of the pharynx & what are their borders?
Nasopharynx - choanae to lower border of soft palate
Oropharynx - lower border of soft palate to superior border of epiglottis
Larnygopharynx - superior border of epiglottis to cricopharyngeal sphincter (top of oesophagus)
What are the two muscles on the soft palate & what do they do?
- Tensor veli palatini - stretches palate
- Levator veli palatini - moves palate up & down to seal off nasal cavity when swallowing
How many pharyngeal constrictors are there and what are their names?
3 - superior, middle, inferior
What is the motor innervation of the constrictors & how do the contract?
CNX
From superior to inferior - peristaltic action
When testing the gag reflex, what nerves are you looking at for what?
CNIX for sensitivity
CNX for motor
What is a pharyngeal diverticulum?
At the weak spot where muscle fibres change direction, • mucosa can pop out backwards to form a pouch.
If food gets stuck here, decomposes & gives bad breath & bad taste in mouth. Food can be ejected when coughing
What are the internal muscles of the pharynx?
- Tensor & levator veli palatinis
- Salpingopharyngeus
- Palatopharyngeaus
- Stylopharyngeus
What does the salpingopharyngeal muscle do?
Contracts during swallow to open eustacian tube & equalise pressure
What is the innervation to internal muscles of the pharynx?
All pharyngeal muscles innervated by CN X, except stylopharyngeus (CNIX) + tensor veli palatini (CNV)
What can damage to CN X or Vc cause?
Ipsilateral soft palate paralysis
What sits at the back of the oral cavity?
- Uvula - bit that hangs down
- Palato arches – formed by muscles from soft palate to tongue or pharynx
- Palatine tonsil between the two muscles
What are the functions of the larynx?
- Guard entrance to tracheobronchial tree
- Prevent ingress of fluids & solids
- Allows regulation of intrathoracic & intra-abdominal pressure (valsalva manoeuvre)
- Enable phonation – production of sound
- Speech articulation control by pharynx, tongue & lips
What sits at C3?
Hyoid - U-shaped piece of cartilage
What sits at C4?
Thyroid cartilage
What sits at C5?
Laryngeal prominence
What sits at C6/7?
Cricothyroid cartilage
What can the cricothyroid membrane be used for?
Cricothyrotomy - emergency airway
What sort of joint is the inferior horn?
Synovial joint
What is the arytenoid?
Piece of cartilage where bits point up, forward & laterally.
Vocal folds attach here
What are the two strong membranes covered in respiratory mucosa?
- Aryepiglottic (quadrangular) membrane
- Cricovocal membrane
What happens when the aryepiglottic fold contracts?
Shrinks lumen to protect airway
What are the muscles of the larynx?
- Cricothyroid muscle - lengthen vocal cords - increase pitch
- Lateral cricoarytenoid muscle - adducts vocal ligaments - airway protection
- Posterior cricoarytenoid muscle - abducts vocal ligaments- allows breathing
- Thyroarytenoid & vocalis - fine pitch control
All motor & sensory nerve supply to the pharynx is by which cranial nerve
CNX - via two branches - superior & recurrent laryngeal nerve
What is the nerve supply to the muscles of the larynx?
All innervated by recurrent laryngeal nerve, except cricothryoid muscle by superior.
