Atlas of Human Anatomy by Netter

Boundaries

Anteriorly: oropharyngeal opening posterior one third tongue epiglottis

Laterally: palatoglossal and palatopharyngeal arches (containing palatoglossus and palatopharyngeus muscles)

Superiorly: soft palate

Posteriorly: superior and middle constrictor muscles

Contains palatine tonsils

Found in cleft between palatoglossal and palatopharyngeal arches

Tonsil lies on tonsillar bed = superior constrictor muscle and pharyngobasilar fascia

Epiglottis

United to tongue by median and lateral glossoepiglottic folds

Depression between medial and lateral folds = epiglottic valleculae

Laryngopharynx

From superior border of epiglottis to inferior border of cricoid cartilage

Lined with stratified squamous epithelium

Boundaries

Inferiorly: continuous with esophagus

Superiorly: continuous with oropharynx

Anteriorly: larynx

Posteriorly: middle and inferior constrictor muscles deep: Bodies of C4-C6 vertebrae

Laterally: middle and inferior constrictor muscles

Piriform recesses

Small depressions on either side of laryngeal inlet

Separated from inlet by aryepiglottic folds

Bounded medially by thyroid cartilage and thyrohyoid membrane

Muscles of Pharynx
page 39
page 40

Wall of pharynx is unique

Composed of outer circular and inner longitudinal layers of muscles

External circular layer consists of three constrictor muscles: pharyngeal constrictors

Inner longitudinal layer consists of three paired muscles

Pharyngeal constrictors = three muscles

Superior, middle, and inferior constrictor muscles form a muscular sleeve

Have strong internal facial lining: pharyngobasilar fascia

Contract involuntarily in sequence = peristalsis

All supplied by pharyngeal plexus of nerves

Inner longitudinal layer = three muscles

Elevate larynx

Shorten pharynx

Act during swallowing and speaking

Stylopharyngeus

Palatopharyngeus

Salpingopharyngeus

Gaps between constrictors

Areas where structures can enter and leave pharynx

Between superior constructor and skull

Levator veli palatini

Auditory tube

Ascending palatine artery

Between superior and middle constructor

Stylopharyngeus muscle

Glossopharyngeal nerve

Stylohyoid ligament

Between middle and inferior constrictor

Internal laryngeal nerve

Superior laryngeal artery and vein

Below inferior constructor

Recurrent laryngeal nerve

Inferior laryngeal artery

Muscle Origin Insertion Innervation Main Actions

Superior pharyngeal

constrictor

Hamulus, pterygomandibular raphe,

mylohyoid line of mandible

Median raphe

of pharynx

Vagus via

pharyngeal plexus

Constricts wall of pharynx during

swallowing

Middle pharyngeal

constrictor

Stylohyoid ligament and horns of

hyoid bone

Median raphe

of pharynx

Vagus via

pharyngeal plexus

Constricts wall of pharynx during

swallowing

Inferior pharyngeal

constrictor

Oblique line of thyroid cartilage, and

cricoid cartilage

Median raphe

of pharynx

Vagus via

pharyngeal plexus

Constricts wall of pharynx during

swallowing

SalpingopharyngeusAuditory (pharyngotympanic) tube Side of

pharynx wall

Vagus via

pharyngeal plexus

Elevates pharynx and larynx during

swallowing and speaking

Stylopharyngeus Medial aspect of styloid process Pharyngeal

wall

Glossopharyngeal

nerve

Elevates pharynx and larynx during

swallowing and speaking

Arterial supply

Tonsillar artery (from facial) to tonsil