Swallowing Flashcards
What are the two major functions of the pharynx?
breathing and swallowing (has both respiratory and digestive functions)
Where does the pharyngeal wall (musculofascial half-cylinder) meet with the esophagus?
at the level of the 6th cervical vertebra
The pharynx has openings into what 3 cavities?
1) nasal2) oral3) laryngeal
What are the 3 named divisions of the pharynx?
1) nasopharynx2) oropharynx3) laryngopharynx
What are the first two skeletal connections of the anterior line of the attachment of the lateral pharyngeal wall?
on each side, the posterior edge of the medial pterygoid plate of the sphneoid bone then onto the pterygoid hamulus
What is a linear cord-like connective tissue ligament that spans the distance between the tip of the pterygoid hamulus and a triangular roughening immediately posterior to the third molar of the mandible?
pterygomandibular raphne
What does the pterygomandibular raphne join?
superior constrictor (muscle of lateral pharyngeal wall) to buccinator (muscle of lateral wall of oral cavity)
What ligament connects the tip of the styloid process of the temporal bone to the lesser horn of the hyoid bone?
stylohyoid ligament
Where does the anterior line of the attachment of the lateral pharyngeal wall extend after passing the lesser horn of the hyoid bone?
along the entire upper surface of the greater horn of the hyoid
From the greater horn of the hyoid bone, where does the anterior line of attachment of the lateral pharyngeal wall extend?
descends along the oblique line of thyroid cartilage to the inferior tubercle of the thyroid cartilage
From the inferior tubercle of thyroid cartilage, where does the anterior line of attachment of the lateral pharyngeal wall extend?
over the cricothyroid muscle via the tendinous arch (between the lower aspect of the oblique line of thyroid cartilage and the cricoid cartilage)
Where does the anterior line of attachment of the lateral pharyngeal wall terminate?
the cricoid cartilage
What are the 2 groups of pharyngeal muscles?
1) constrictor muscles2) longitudinal muscles
What is the thick submucosal fascia called that supports the epithelial lining of the pharyngeal wall?
pharyngobasilar fascia
How many constrictor muscles are there? Name them.
1) superior constrictor muscle2) middle constrictor muscle3) inferior constrictor muscle
How many longitudinal muscles are there? Name them.
1) Stylopharyngeus2) Salpingopharyngeus3) Palatopharyngeus
What are 5 of the 6 pharyngeal muscles innervated by?
CN X (pharyngeal branches)
Which pharyngeal muscle is NOT innervated by CN X? What is it innervated by?
stylopharyngeus is innervated by CN IX (pharyngeal branches)
What is the layer of pharyngeal fascia located EXTERNAL to the pharyngeal muscles called?
buccopharyngeal fascia
What space is located between the buccopharyngeal fascia and the prevertebral fascia?
retropharyngeal space
What is the deepest constrictor muscle?
superior constrictor is “deeper” if looking from a posterior view
Does the pharynx have an anterior wall?
not really, it opens into many cavities anteriorly so the walls are mostly lateral and posterior
What nerves contribute to the pharyngeal plexus?
CN IX (GSA)CN X (GVE parasympathetic)superior cervical sympathetic ganglia (GVE sympathetic)
Name the 4 layers of the pharyngeal wall from the inside out?
1) mucous membrane2) pharyngobasilar fascia (submucosa)3) muscular layer (with constrictors and longitudinal muscles)4) buccopharyngeal fascia
Generally, which is deeper? Constrictors or longitudinal muscles of the pharynx. What is the exception?
Longitudinal muscles form mainly an inner layer but the exception is the superior portion of the stylopharyngeus being external
What makes up the uppermost aspect of the pharyngeal wall?
only the pharyngobasilar (continuous with periosteum at base of skull) and buccopharyngeal fascia *NO MUSCLE
What allows for the spread of infection from the skull into the mediastinum?
loose areolar tissue of the retropharyngeal space can fill with pus and cause swallowing and breathing problems
What muscular band helps to close off the nasopharynx during swallowing?
palatopharyngeal sphincter
What is the cricopharyngeus portion of the inferior constrictor called?
upper esophageal sphincter
What is the role of the upper esophageal sphincter?
helps to keep corrosive stomach contents from regurgitating back into the pharynx or laryngeal inlet
What can occur if the upper esophageal sphincter does not relax properly and chronic pressure builds up in the pharynx?
diverticulum
What is responsible for eructation? What is another name for eructation?
the upper esophageal sphincter makes the sound of eructation (belching)
What creates the first gap of the pharyngeal wall?
the gap between the superior constrictor and the base of the skull
What fills in the first gap of the pharyngeal wall?
pharyngobasilar fascia
What structures pass through the first gap of the pharyngeal wall?
1) cartilaginous portion of the auditory tube2) levator veli palatini3) ascending palatine branch of the facial artery4) palatine branch of the ascending pharyngeal artery
What creates the 2nd gap of the pharyngeal wall?
the gap between the middle and superior constrictor
What fills in the 2nd gap of the pharyngeal wall?
pharyngobasilar fascia
What passes through the second gap of the pharyngeal wall?
1) stylopharyngeus muscle (to get to thyroid cartilage)2) grossopharyngeal nerve3) lingual artery
At what point does the pharyngobasilar fascia begin to “thin out”?
below the hyoid bone
What forms the third gap of the pharyngeal wall?
the gap between the middle and inferior constrictors
What fills in the third gap of the pharyngeal wall?
thyrohyoid membrane
What passes though the third gap of the pharyngeal wall?
1) internal branch of the superior laryngeal nerve2) superior laryngeal artery
What forms the 4th and “last” gap of the pharyngeal wall?
the gap between the inferior constrictor and the esophagus
What passes though the 4th and final gap of the pharyngeal wall?
1) recurrent laryngeal nerve (which then is called the inferior laryngeal nerve)2) laryngeal branch of the inferior thyroid artery
What are the superior and inferior insertions of the pharyngeal raphe?
superior: pharyngeal tubercle of occipital boneinferior: continuous with the esophagus
What branches from the posterior surface of the external carotid artery and ascends on the pharynx?
ascending pharyngeal artery
What nerve passes laterally to the internal jugular vein to penetrate the sternocleidomastoid muscle?
accessory nerve
What structure originates from the vagus nerve at the base of the skull (just below the jugular foramen)?
superior laryngeal nerve
Where does the superior laryngeal nerve divide? What does it divide into?
the superior laryngeal nerve enters the carotid triangle and divides into the internal and external laryngeal nerves
What exits the hypoglossal canal posterior to the jugular foramen?
hypoglossal nerve