Week 10 - Pharynx Flashcards
What are the boundaries of the sections of the pharynx?
Nasopharynx = from the back edge of the nasal septum to the edge of the soft palate Oropharynx = from edge of the soft palate to the tip of the epiglottis Laryngopharynx = tip of epiglottis to the cricoid cartilage (then becomes the trachea and oesophagus)
What is the nasopharynx lined by?
Respiratory epithelium
What tube opens into the nasopharynx?
Auditory tube
What is found around the auditory tube?
The tubal elevation and tubal tonsil
What does the auditory tube allow? Why is this needed?
Allows air to pass into the middle ear from the nasopharynx Needed because the middle ear is air filled and lined by respiratory epithelium. The epithelium absorbs the air over time so auditory tube allows the air to be replaced.
What is a clinical significance of the connection between the nasopharynx and middle ear via the auditory tube?
Infection can pass from the nasopharynx to the middle ear
What recess is found behind/next to the auditory tube opening in the nasopharynx?
The pharyngeal recess
What is a clinical significance of the pharyngeal recess?
Can get malignant change here which is very hard to detect, diagnose and treat
What muscle is found in the palatoglossal fold?
Palatoglossus muscle
What tonsils are found in the tonsillar fossa? Where is this located?
Palatine tonsils Between the palatoglossal and glossopharyngeal arches
What is the space between the tongue and epiglottis called?
Vallecula
What tonsils are found on the posterior part of the dorsum of the tongue?
lingual tonsils
What forms the epiglottis?
Cartilage and elastic fibres
What is the space between the 2 palatoglossal folds called?
The isthmus of the facets
Where is a common site for fishbones to get stuck?
The pyriform fossa (also sometimes the vallecula)
What is the pyriform fossa?
a pear-shaped recess (pocket in the mucosa) found in the laryngopharynx
Why are tonsils removed sparingly now?
Because the tonsillar branch of the facial artery is at risk of haemorrhage during surgery
What is Waldeyer’s ring?
Collection (non-continuous ring) of lymphatic surrounding the pharynx. It responds to pathogens that are inhaled to protect the airways. Composed from: -lingual tonsils -palatine tonsils -tubal tonsils -Pharyngeal tonsils
Describe the lingual tonsils
-located on posterior base of tongue -form antero-inferior part of ring -Drain lymph into jugulo-omohyoid lymph nodes
Describe the palatine tonsils.
-fauces -well developed in young children as active located on each side of the mouth between the palatoglossal and glossopharyngeal arches -form lateral part of ring -Drain lymph into jugulodigastric lymph nodes
Describe the tubal tonsils
-Located in cartilaginous tubal elevation around opening of auditory tube -form lateral part of ring??
Describe the pharyngeal tonsils.
-Nasopharyngeal/adenoid tonsils -Located in roof of nasopharynx (posterior border), behind the uvula -Form postero-superior part of ring
Describe where the stylopharyngeal muscle is seen.
Arises from the styloid process and goes between the superior and middle constrictor muscles before blending with the connective tissue of wall of pharynx
What is the function of the stylopharyngeus muscle?
Form the lateral walls of pharynx
What nerve supplied the stylopharyngeus?
Glossopharyngeal nerve
What is the role of the glossopharyngeal nerve in the pharynx?
Sensory to the oropharynx and nasopharynx and innervated the stylopharyngeus
What innervates the pharyngeal constrictor muscles?
Pharyngeal plexus which come from the vagus nerve
What kind of muscle are the pharyngeal constrictors made from? Is the action voluntary?
Skeletal muscle The first act in swallowing is voluntary but the rest is a strong reflex
What muscle attaches to the pterygomandibular raphe?
Buccinator
What muscles are attached to the pharyngeal raphe?
Superior, middle and inferior constrictors