Unit 1 Pharynx Flashcards
1
Q
What is the name for the common pathway for food and air?
A
Pharynx
2
Q
What structure is said to be part of both the respiratory and digestive systems?
A
Pharynx
3
Q
What shape is the pharynx?
A
Funnel-shaped
4
Q
What is the extension of the pharynx?
A
From base of skull to the inferior border of the cricoid cartilage
5
Q
The pharynx lies posterior to which structures?
A
Nasal cavity, oral cavity, and larynx
6
Q
What are the three parts of the pharynx?
A
Nasopharynx, oropharynx, laryngopharynx
7
Q
Where is the nasopharynx (C1) located?
A
Posterior to the nasal cavity
8
Q
Where is the oropharynx located?
A
Posterior to the oral cavity
9
Q
Where is the laryngopharynx located?
A
Posterior to the larynx
10
Q
How does the nasopharynx communicate with the nasal cavity?
A
Choanae
11
Q
How does the nasopharynx communcate with the oropharynx?
A
Pharyngeal isthmus
12
Q
During swallowing, what happens to the pharyngeal isthmus?
A
It’s closed
13
Q
What is the superior boundary of the nasopharynx?
A
Roof of pharynx
14
Q
What is the inferior boundary of the nasopharynx?
A
Soft palate
15
Q
What is the anterior boundary of the nasopharynx?
A
Posterior border of the inferior nasal concha
16
Q
What is the posterior boundary of the nasopharynx?
A
Posterior wall of the pharynx
17
Q
What is another name for the pharyngeal tonsils?
A
Adenoids
18
Q
Where are the pharyngeal tonsils located?
A
In the posterior wall of the nasopharynx
19
Q
What are the second most commonly removed tonsils?
A
Pharyngeal
20
Q
What is the clinical significance of the pharyngeal tonsils (adenoids)?
A
They may become enlarged caused difficulty breathing through the nose
21
Q
What opens into the lateral wall of the nasopharynx?
A
Pharyngotympanic tube
22
Q
What cartilage limits the pharyngotympanic tube above?
A
Torus tubarius
23
Q
What does the pharyngotympanic tube connect?
A
Nasopharynx to middle ear (tympanic cavity)
24
Q
What is the function of the pharyngotympanic tube?
A
Equalizes pressure between nasopharnyx and tympanic cavity
25
What is the infection that spreads from the nasopharynx to the middle ear via the pharyngotympanic tube called?
Otitis media
26
What is the small tonsil called which lies immediately behind the opening of the pharyngotympanic tube that lacks deeps pits so it is rarely infected?
Tubal tonsil
27
What is the fold called that descends from the torus tubarius to the wall of the pharynx?
Salpingopharyngeal fold
28
What lies deep to the salpingopharyngeal fold?
Salpingopharyngeus muscle
29
What is the first line of defense against infection?
Tonsillar ring
30
What is the superior boundary of the oropharynx?
Soft palate
31
What is the inferior boundary of the oropharynx?
Superior border of the epiglottis
32
What is the anterior border of the oropharynx?
Palatoglossal fold
33
What is the posterior boundary of the oropharynx?
Posterior wall of the pharynx
34
At what vertebral level does the oropharynx lie?
C2-C3
35
How does the oropharynx communicate with the oral cavity?
Oropharyngeal isthmus (isthmus of fauces) which is bounded by palatoglossal folds
36
In which part of the pharynx are the palatine tonsils located between two folds?
Oropharynx
37
What is the space called between the palatoglossal and palatopharyngeal folds?
Tonsillar fossa (where palatine tonsils are found)
38
Which tonsils are most frequently removed during childhood?
Palatine
39
What is the tonsillar ring?
Circular arrangement of tonsils around the oropharynx formed by the lingual, palatine, tubal, and pharyngeal tonsils
40
What is the longest part of the pharynx?
Laryngopharynx
41
At what vertebral levels is the laryngopharynx?
C4-C6
42
What is the superior boundary of the laryngopharynx?
Superior border of the epiglottis
43
What is the inferior border of the laryngopharynx?
Lower border of the cricoid cartilage where it joins the esophagus
44
What is the anterior border of the laryngopharynx?
Posterior surface of the larynx
45
What is the posterior border of the laryngopharynx?
Posterior wall of the pharynx
46
What is the opening into the larynx found within the laryngopharnx called?
Laryngeal inlet
47
What binds the laryngeal inlet laterally?
Aryepiglottic folds
48
What binds the laryngeal inlet inferiorly?
Interartytenoid notch
49
What is the recess in the anterior wall of the laryngopharynx called that is located on either side of the laryngeal inlet?
Piriform fossa (recess)
50
What is the significance of the piriform fossa?
Creates a passage for food around the laryngeal inlet
51
Where can foreign objects such as fish bones frequently become lodged in the laryngopharynx?
Piriform fossa
52
What is one of the major causes of halitosis (bad breath) involving the laryngopharynx?
Deep piriform fossae (possibilities of foreign objects remaining stuck)
53
What are the two layers of pharyngeal muscles?
External (circular) layer and longitudinal layer
54
What is the biggest external (circular) layer of the pharyngeal muscles?
Inferior constrictor muscle
55
What is the origin of the inferior constrictor muscle?
Cricoid cartilage and thyroid cartilage
56
What is the insertion of the inferior constrictor muscle?
Pharyngeal raphe
57
What is the innervation of the inferior constrictor muscle?
Vagus nerve via the pharyngeal plexus and EXTERNAL LARYNGEAL NERVE
58
What is the function of the inferior constrictor muscle?
Contracts the pharynx during swallowing propelling the bolus downward
59
What is the origin of the middle constrictor muscle?
Greater and lesser horns of the hyoid bone
60
What is the insertion of the middle constrictor muscle?
Pharyngeal raphe
61
What is the innervation of the middle constrictor muscle?
Vagus nerve via the pharyngeal plexus
62
What is the function of the middle constrictor muscle?
Contracts the pharynx during swallowing
63
What is the origin of the superior constrictor muscle?
Medial pterygoid plate, alveolar part of the mandible, side of tongue
64
What is the insertion of the superior constrictor muscle?
Pharyngeal raphe
65
What is the innervation of the superior constrictor muscle?
Vagus nerve via the pharyngeal plexus
66
What is the function of the superior constrictor muscle?
Contracts the pharnyx during swallowing
67
What is the specialized band of muscle formed by the superior constrictor muscle which helps to seal the pharyngeal isthmus during swallowing?
Palatopharyngeal sphincter
68
What is the origin of the stylopharyngeus muscle?
Styloid process
69
What is the insertion of the stylopharyngeus muscle?
Thyroid cartilage, some fibers blend with those of the constrictors
70
What is the innervation of the stylopharyngeus muscle?
Glossopharyngeal nerve (IX)
71
What is the function of the stylopharyngeus muscle?
Elevates pharynx
72
What is the origin of the palatopharyngeus muscle?
Soft palate
73
What is the insertion of the palatopharyngeus muscle?
Wall of pharynx, thyroid cartilage
74
What is the innervation of the palatopharyngeus muscle?
Vagus nerve via the pharyngeal plexus
75
What is the function of the palatopharyngeus muscle?
Elevates pharynx, narrows oropharynx
76
What is the origin of the salpingopharyngeus muscle?
Torus tubarius and opening of pharyngotympanic tube
77
What is the insertion of the salpingopharyngeus muscle?
Wall of pharynx
78
What is the innervation of the salpingopharyngeus muscle?
Vagus nerve via the pharyngeal plexus
79
What is the function of the salpinopharyngeus muscle?
Elevates the pharynx, opens pharyngotympanic tube
80
The fibers of which two muscles blend together in the wall of the pharynx?
Palatopharyngeus and salphinopharyngeus
81
What is the nervous control center for swallowing?
Pharyngeal plexus
82
What makes up the pharyngeal plexus?
Pharyngeal branch of the vagus nerve, pharyngeal branch of the glossopharyngeal nerve, sympathetic fibers from the superior cervical ganglion
83
What are the arteries of the pharynx?
Ascending pharyngeal and maxillary artery
84
What two muscles work together to open the pharyngotympanic tube?
Salpingopharygeus and tensor veli palatini
85
What is the layer of fascia surrounding the pharynx external to the muscles of the pharynx that is continuous with pretracheal fascia?
Buccopharyngeal fascia
86
What allows for infection to spread from the pharynx to the mediastinum?
Buccopharyngeal fascia
87
What layer of fascia lies internal to the muscles and external to the mucosa of the pharynx?
Pharyngobasilar fascia
88
What is the potential space called that is between the buccopharyngeal fascia and prevertebral fascia?
Retropharyngeal space
89
What permits free movement of the pharynx and esophagus during swallowing?
Retropharyngeal space
90
What is the clinical importance of the retropharyngeal space and can be seen in x-ray?
Hemorrhage from cervical trauma or abscess from pharyngeal infection into the retropharyngeal space may cause the posterior wall of the pharynx to balloon forward potentially leading to suffocation
91
What is the proper term for swallowing?
Deglutition
92
What is the initiation stage of deglutition?
Tongue moves bolus back into the oropharyngeal isthmus
93
What is the second stage of deglutition?
Palatoglossus and palatopharyngeus muscles squeeze bolus back into oropharynx while leavtor veli palatini and tensor veli palatini muscles elevate the soft palate to close of the pharyngeal isthmus
94
What is the third stage of deglutition?
Walls of the pharynx are elevated by the stylopharyngeus, palatopharyngeus, and salpinopharygeus muscles while the suprahyoid muscles elevate the hyoid bone and the larynx thus flexing the epiglottis back over the laryngeal inlet
95
What is the final stage of deglutition?
The constrictor muscles contract in sequence to move the food through the oropharynx and laryngopharynx into the esophagus. Peristalsis propels it into the stomach.
96
What is the term for difficulty swallowing?
Dysphagia
