{"id":2534,"date":"2020-10-20T15:50:47","date_gmt":"2020-10-20T13:50:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/meddists.com\/learn\/pre-clinical\/anatomy\/head-and-neck\/head\/muscles\/muscles-of-the-pharynx\/"},"modified":"2021-10-09T13:15:53","modified_gmt":"2021-10-09T11:15:53","slug":"muscles-of-the-pharynx","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/meddists.com\/learn\/pre-clinical\/anatomy\/skull-head-and-neck\/neck\/pharynx\/muscles-of-the-pharynx\/","title":{"rendered":"Muscles of the pharynx"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The walls of the laryngopharynx consist of inner (longitudinal) and outer (circular) muscular layers. They are responsible for maintaining the airways and the propulsion of food and liquid.<\/div><\/p>\n\n\n\n

External layer<\/h3>\n<\/span>\n\n\n

The external circular layer collectively contains the pharyngeal constrictors:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Superior pharyngeal constrictor<\/li>
  2. Middle pharyngeal constrictor<\/li>
  3. Inferior pharyngeal constrictor<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n<\/span>\n

    Description<\/h4>\n<\/span>\n\n\n

    The constrictors, as per their name, cause sequential constriction of the pharynx, propelling food into the esophagus. These muscles surround the pharynx posteriorly and laterally, and they are oriented circularly around the pharynx. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    • Although they are oriented circularly, they are actually longitudinal in direction.<\/li>
    • The constrictor muscles insert on eachother at the midline, forming a pharyngeal raphe<\/strong>.<\/li>
    • The inferior pharyngeal constrictor can be divided into two separate muscles; the thyropharyngeus <\/strong>and cricopharyngeus<\/strong> muscles<\/strong>.<\/li>
    • Their internal internal fascia, the pharyngobasilar fascia<\/strong> is strong and thick, while their external fascia, the buccopharyngeal fascia<\/strong> is thin and blends inferiorly with the pretracheal fascia.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<\/span>\n

      Innervation<\/h4>\n<\/span>\n\n\n

      The constrictor muscles as a whole are innervated by the pharyngeal plexus from the vagus and glossopharyngeal nerves, but individually are innervated by the pharyngeal branch (superior) and in addition, the external and recurrent laryngeal (middle and inferior), all from the vagus.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/span>\n

      Origin and insertion<\/h4>\n<\/span>\n\n\n

      The attachment of each constrictor might be a bit tricky, especially the superior one:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Superior pharyngeal constrictor originates from the pterygoid Hamulus, the pterygomandibular raphe, the mylohyoid line of the mandible and the side of the tongue; it inserts on the pharyngeal tubercle on the basilar surface of the occipital bone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      The middle pharyngeal constrictor originates from the body and greater horn of the hyoid bone, and inserts on itself, as the pharyngeal raphe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      The inferior pharyngeal constrictor originates from the oblique line on the thyroid cartilage and the cricoid cartilage, and inserts on itself forming a raphe around the esophagus (cricopharyngeous).<\/p>\n\n\n<\/span>\n

      The pharyngeal constrictor gaps<\/h4>\n<\/span>\n\n\n

      There are four gaps that are formed by spaces between structures and the pharyngeal constrictors themselves, with various structures passing through:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      1. Superior to the superior pharyngeal constrictor (between itself and the cranium) there are three structures passing: The tensor veli palatini, pharyngotympanic tube, and the ascending palatine artery.<\/li>
      2. Between superior and middle pharyngeal constrictors: Stylopharyngeus, glossopharyngeal nerve, and stylohyoid ligament pass through.<\/li>
      3. Between middle and inferior pharyngeal constrictors: internal laryngeal nerve and superior laryngeal artery and vein pass through.<\/li>
      4. Inferior to inferior pharyngeal constrictor: recurrent laryngeal nerve and inferior laryngeal artery pass through.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n<\/span>\n

        Internal layer<\/h3>\n<\/span>\n\n\n

        The internal longitudinal layer contains muscles responsible for the elevation of the pharynx during swallowing, essentially helping shorten it:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        1. Salpingopharyngeus<\/li>
        2. Palatopharyngeus<\/li>
        3. Stylopharyngeus<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n<\/span>\n

          Innervation<\/h4>\n<\/span>\n\n\n

          The salpingopharyngeus and palatopharyngeus muscles are innervated by the vagus nerve, while the stylopharyngeus is innervated by the glossopharyngeal nerve.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/span>\n

          Origin and insertion<\/h4>\n<\/span>\n\n\n

          The attachment point of each muscle is rather simple:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Salpingopharyngeus spans from the cartilage of the pharyngotympanic tube, and blends in the muscle fibers of the palatopharyngeus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Palatopharyngeus spans from the hard palate down to the posterior surface of the thyroid cartilage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Stylopharyngeus spans from the styloid process down to the posterior surface of the thyroid cartilage as well.<\/p>\n<\/span>

          External layer<\/h3>

          Description<\/h4>

          Innervation<\/h4>

          Origin and insertion<\/h4>

          The pharyngeal constrictor gaps<\/h4>

          Internal layer<\/h3>

          Innervation<\/h4>

          Origin and insertion<\/h4><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

          External layer The external circular layer collectively contains the pharyngeal constrictors: Superior pharyngeal constrictor Middle pharyngeal constrictor Inferior pharyngeal constrictor Description The constrictors, as per their name, cause sequential constriction of the pharynx, propelling food into the esophagus. These muscles surround the pharynx posteriorly and laterally, and they are oriented circularly around the pharynx. Although […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":2131,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2534","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\nMuscles of the pharynx – Meddists<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/meddists.com\/learn\/pre-clinical\/anatomy\/skull-head-and-neck\/neck\/pharynx\/muscles-of-the-pharynx\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" 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