The Pharynx 3 Flashcards
What is the laryngeal part of the pharynx supplied by?
It is supplied by the internal and recurrent laryngeal branches of the vagus that transmit sensory neurones back to the brain.
What is the pharyngeal plexus composed off?
- internal and recurrent branches of the vagus
- glossopharyngeal nerve
- pharyngeal branch of vagus
- sympathetic fibres
Where is the pharyngeal plexus?
This is on the surface of the pharynx.
What is there a ring of surrounding the entrance to the respiratory and digestive tracts?
There is a ring of lymphoid tissue which consists:
- adenoids (or pharyngeal tonsil) posteriorly behind the soft palate
- lymphoid tissue surrounding the opening of the auditory tube
- palatine tonsils on either side
- lymphoid tissue at the back of the tongue
What are the consequences of enlarged pharyngeal tonsil?
It can obstruct the auditory tibes and make breathing through the nose difficult. Reduce the size of the oropharyngeal inlet significantly.
Why is tonsilectomy common in children?
It is common because the tonsils can be easily infected.
What is a complication of tonsilectomy?
This is when we have bleeding from the tonsilar bed.
At least how many arteries contribute to the blood supply to the palatine tonsil and name them.
At least 4:
- facial
- lingual
- ascending pharyngeal
- palatine
What is postoperative bleeding of the pharynx attributed to?
It is attributed to the copious venous drainage from the palatine tonsil and post-operative bleeding can be attributed to a vein from the soft palate (the external palatine vein) which runs through the tonsilar bed.
What nerve lies deep to the tonsilar bed?
The glossopharyngeal nerve as it runs forwards to approach the back of the tongue.
How are the inferior constrictor muscle and the oesophagus continuous with each other?
They are continuous posterior to the cricoid cartilage.
Sometimes the muscle fibres in this region form the cricopharyngeus muscle.
In the region between the inferior contrictor muscle and oesophagus where they are joining together, what can happen?
Occasionally there are inherent weaknesses between the muscles of the pharyngeal wall and the oesophagus in this region and outpouchings from the lumen of the pharynx can protrude through the muscular wall. These are called pharyngeal pouches or diverticuli.
Why are pharyngeal pouches significant?
Because the can collect food and because a gastroscope could pass into one of these instead of into the lumen of the oesophagus, unless the operator is alert than these pouches can be present.
