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1.14 The Pharynx : Landmarks and Muscles  Medial surface: Projects into the cavity of the
1st term Prelims oropharynx, covered by mucous membrane
 Tonsillar crypts – Multiple depressions
 Tonsilith: whitish structures blocking crypts
 Anterior pillar: Palatoglossal fold (palatoglossus
muscle covered by muscle membrane)
 Posterior pillar: Palatopharyngeal fold
(Palatopharyngeus muscle covered by mucous
membrane)
 Superior: soft palate
 Inferior: posterior 3rd of tongue
 Medially: Cavity of the oropharynx
 Laterally: Tonsilar bed composed of loose areolar
tissues, external palatine vein, facial artery
accompanied by branches of the glossopharyngeal
nerve
 Blood supply : tonsillar branch of facial artery
 Venous drainage: Veins pierce the superior
constrictor muscle and join the external palatine,
the pharyngeal or the facial veins
 Lymph: jugulogastric nodes

● Hypopharynx
 Superior: Upper margin of Epiglottis
Pharynx
 Inferior: Border of cricoid cartilage
● Continuation of digestive tract
 Posterior: C3-C6
● Funnel shaped muscular tube
 Anterior: posterior surface of larynx
● 15cm long
 Laterally: piriform fossa
● Common route for air and food *Lodging sit for foreign bodies
● From skull base to C6, continuous with the esophagus  Small depression situated on either side of
● Anterior wall: oral cavity, Posterior nasal apertures, laryngeal inlet
Laryngeal inlet  Medial Boundary: aryepiglottic fold
● Widest area is at the level of hyoid bone  Laterally Boundary: lamina of thyroid cartilage
● Narrowest: Area continuous to the esophagus1st and thyrohyoid membrane

SUBDIVISIONS

● Nasopharynx
 Superior: Skull base and floor of Sphenoid sinus
 Inferior: Horizontal line from Velum
 Posterior: curve of the 1st vertebrae (C1),
prevertebral muscles and fascia
 Laterally: taurus tobarius (encloses entrance to
eustachian tube) and Pharyngeal recess
 Anterior: choana
● Oropharynx
 Superior: Horizontal line from velum
 Inferior: Upper margin of Epiglottis
 Posteriorly: C2&C3, Prevertebral muscles and ● Pharyngeal Wall
 Laterally: Anterior and posterior Tonsillar  Musculo-membranous wall composed of Mucosa
Pillars and Palatine tonsils & submucosa, Pharyngobasilar fascia, Circular &
 Anterior: Lingual tonsils and Tongue Base Longitudinal muscles and Bucchopharyngeal
● Palatine tonsils fascia
 Paired masses of lymphoid tissue at lateral borer  The buccopharyngeal fascia and prevertebral
of oropharynx fascia are separated by retropharyngeal space
 Located in the Palatine fossa/sinus  Opens inferiorly into superior mediastinum
 Achieve maximal size at 8-10 y/o and then  Bucchopharyngeal fascia – pharyngeal plexus of
diminishes (along w fxn) nerves and veins
 Lateral surface: Covered by fibrous capsule  Retropharyngeal space

TRANSCRIBERS: COSUE, B., FERNANDEZ, M, DONATO, R. Page 1 of 3

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 Potential space between the 3) Palatopharyngeus
Bucchopharyngeal fascia lining of the pharynx ● Origin: palatine aponeurosis
and prevertebral fascia ● Insertion: Posterior border of thyroid
 allows movement of the Pharynx, Larynx, cartilage
Trachea and Esophagus during swallowing ● Blood supply
 Superior: Base of the skull ● External carotid
 Laterally: Carotid sheath  Facial artery
 Ascending palatine artery
 Ascending pharyngeal artery
 Lingual artery
 Tonsillar artery

● Venous drainage: Pharyngeal venous plexus – drains to

Internal Jugular Vein

MUSCLES OF THE PHARYNX

● 3 overlapping constrictors
 Inserted posteriorly
 The space between superior constrictor muscle and
occipital bone is filled by thickened pharyngobasilar fascia
 Overlap each other
1) Superior Constrictor
 Origin: pterygoid plate, pterygoid ● Lymphatics
hamulus, pterygomandibular ligament, A) Nasopharynx:
mylohyoid line  Retropharyngeal nodes
 Insertion: pharyngeal raphe, Pharyngeal  Lateral Pharyngeal
tubercle  Deep jugular chain
2) Middle Constrictor B) Oropharynx
 Origin: lower part of stylohyoid ligament,  Retropharyngeal nodes
greater and lesser cornu of hyoid  Superior Deep Cervical and Jugular nodes
 Insertion: pharyngeal raphe
3) Inferior Constrictor C.)"Waldeyer's Ring"
 Origin: Lamina of thyroid cart, cricoid  Lymphoid tissue in pharynx
cartilage  Barrier to infection
 Insertion: pharyngeal raphe  Consist of lingual, pharyngeal, palatine and tubal
**FXNS: propel bolus down into esophagus tonsils (aka Tonsils of Gerlach)

 3 longitudinal muscles
**Fxn: elevate Larynx and pharynx during
swallowing
1) Stylopharyngeus
● Origin: styloid process
● Insertion: posterior border of thyroid
cartilage
2) Salpingopharyngeus
● Origin: Auditory tube
● Insertion: Blends with palatoglossus

TRANSCRIBERS: COSUE, B., FERNANDEZ, M, DONATO, R. Page 2 of 3

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TRANSCRIBERS: COSUE, B., FERNANDEZ, M, DONATO, R. Page 3 of 3