Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is the length of the pharynx and its anatomical extension?
What is the length of the pharynx and its anatomical extension?
The pharynx is approximately 12 cm long and extends from the base of the skull to the oesophagus at the level of the C6 vertebra.
List the layers of the pharyngeal wall from innermost to outermost.
List the layers of the pharyngeal wall from innermost to outermost.
The layers are mucosa, submucosa, pharyngobasilar fascia, muscular coat, and buccopharyngeal fascia.
Which nerve supplies the stylopharyngeus muscle?
Which nerve supplies the stylopharyngeus muscle?
The stylopharyngeus muscle is supplied by the glossopharyngeal nerve.
What function do the constrictor muscles of the pharynx serve?
What function do the constrictor muscles of the pharynx serve?
Identify the components of Waldeyer’s ring.
Identify the components of Waldeyer’s ring.
Describe the epithelial lining of the nasopharynx and its significance.
Describe the epithelial lining of the nasopharynx and its significance.
What are the roles of the palatopharyngeus, stylopharyngeus, and salpingopharyngeus muscles?
What are the roles of the palatopharyngeus, stylopharyngeus, and salpingopharyngeus muscles?
How do the nerve supplies differ for the nasopharynx compared to the rest of the pharynx?
How do the nerve supplies differ for the nasopharynx compared to the rest of the pharynx?
What is the purpose of the pharyngobasilar fascia?
What is the purpose of the pharyngobasilar fascia?
Explain the connection between the nasopharynx and the oropharynx.
Explain the connection between the nasopharynx and the oropharynx.
What anatomical structures bound the tonsillar fossa anatomically?
What anatomical structures bound the tonsillar fossa anatomically?
Describe the significance of the piriform fossa in relation to the laryngeal anatomy.
Describe the significance of the piriform fossa in relation to the laryngeal anatomy.
Explain the nerve supply of the pharynx and its components.
Explain the nerve supply of the pharynx and its components.
What is located at the base of the tonsillar fossa?
What is located at the base of the tonsillar fossa?
Identify the vertebral levels relevant to the laryngopharynx.
Identify the vertebral levels relevant to the laryngopharynx.
Discuss the venous drainage of the pharynx.
Discuss the venous drainage of the pharynx.
What are the arterial contributions to the pharynx?
What are the arterial contributions to the pharynx?
What condition may result from improper removal of food particles in the piriform fossa?
What condition may result from improper removal of food particles in the piriform fossa?
Explain the overlap of the constrictor muscles in the pharyngeal wall.
Explain the overlap of the constrictor muscles in the pharyngeal wall.
What is the anatomical location of the laryngopharynx in relation to the cervical vertebrae?
What is the anatomical location of the laryngopharynx in relation to the cervical vertebrae?
What upper boundary defines the nasopharynx?
What upper boundary defines the nasopharynx?
Which condition related to the pharyngeal tonsil may obstruct nasal breathing?
Which condition related to the pharyngeal tonsil may obstruct nasal breathing?
How does the floor of the nasopharynx communicate with the oropharynx?
How does the floor of the nasopharynx communicate with the oropharynx?
What anatomical structure lies behind the tubal elevation in the lateral wall of the nasopharynx?
What anatomical structure lies behind the tubal elevation in the lateral wall of the nasopharynx?
Which muscle contributes to the salpingopharyngeal fold in the lateral wall of the nasopharynx?
Which muscle contributes to the salpingopharyngeal fold in the lateral wall of the nasopharynx?
What is the key anatomical feature that separates the oropharynx from the nasopharynx?
What is the key anatomical feature that separates the oropharynx from the nasopharynx?
Which nerves primarily supply the oropharynx?
Which nerves primarily supply the oropharynx?
What are the two folds produced by the palatoglossus and palatopharyngeus muscles in the oropharynx?
What are the two folds produced by the palatoglossus and palatopharyngeus muscles in the oropharynx?
Where is the palatine tonsil located in relation to the arches of the oropharynx?
Where is the palatine tonsil located in relation to the arches of the oropharynx?
Which cervical vertebrae support the oropharynx behind it?
Which cervical vertebrae support the oropharynx behind it?
Flashcards are hidden until you start studying
Study Notes
Pharynx Anatomy
- Muscular tube, approximately 12cm long, located behind the nose, mouth, and larynx.
- Extends from the skull base superiorly to the esophagus at the C6 vertebra inferiorly.
- Situated anterior to the upper six cervical vertebrae.
Pharynx Layers
- Mucosa (innermost)
- Submucosa
- Pharyngobasilar fascia (forms pharyngeal raphe posteriorly)
- Muscular coat:
- Inner longitudinal layer: Stylopharyngeus, Salpingopharyngeus, Palatopharyngeus muscles.
- Outer circular layer: Superior, middle, and inferior pharyngeal constrictors.
- Buccopharyngeal fascia (outermost)
Pharynx Muscles
- Constrictors: Superior, middle, and inferior (involuntary contraction, superior to inferior).
- Elevators: Palatopharyngeus, Salpingopharyngeus, and Stylopharyngeus (elevate larynx, shorten pharynx during swallowing and speech).
Pharynx Nerve Supply
- Stylopharyngeus: Glossopharyngeal nerve.
- Other muscles: Pharyngeal branch of vagus nerve (via pharyngeal plexus); inferior constrictor also receives supply from external and recurrent laryngeal nerves.
Waldeyer's Ring
- Ring of lymphoid tissue encircling the superior pharynx.
- Components: Palatine, tubal, lingual, and pharyngeal tonsils.
- First line of defense against microbes entering via nasal and oral routes.
Nasopharynx
- Located behind the nose, above the soft palate.
- Lined with ciliated columnar epithelium (respiratory function).
- Rigid, non-collapsable walls maintain airway patency.
- Communicates with nasal cavity via choanae.
- Extends to the soft palate's lower border.
- Communicates with oropharynx via pharyngeal isthmus.
- Nerve supply: Primarily branches of maxillary nerves (pharyngeal branch from pterygopalatine ganglion- V). The rest is supplied by IX and X cranial nerves.
Nasopharynx Boundaries
- Anterior: Posterior nasal aperture.
- Roof: Sphenoid bone, basiocciput, and anterior arch of atlas. Houses the pharyngeal tonsil (adenoids).
- Floor/Inferior: Soft palate; communicates with oropharynx via pharyngeal isthmus.
- Posterior wall: Anterior arch of Atlas (C1).
- Lateral Walls: Eustachian tube opening, tubal elevation, salpingopharyngeal fold, pharyngeal recess (Fossa of Rosenmüller), salpingopalatine fold, and levator veli palatini muscle.
Oropharynx
- Middle pharynx, behind the oral cavity.
- Extends from the soft palate's lower border to the epiglottis' upper border.
- Communicates superiorly with nasopharynx and anteriorly with oral cavity.
- Communicates inferiorly with laryngopharynx at the epiglottis' upper border.
- Located behind the C2 and C3 vertebrae.
- Nerve Supply: Glossopharyngeal nerve
Oropharynx Lateral Wall
- Palatoglossal and palatopharyngeal arches.
- Palatine tonsil within the tonsillar fossa (between arches).
Laryngopharynx
- Extends from the epiglottis' upper border to the C6 vertebra (cricoid cartilage's lower border).
- Continues inferiorly as the esophagus.
- Situated in front of the lower C3, C4, and C5 vertebrae.
- Nerve Supply: Branches of the vagus nerve.
Laryngopharynx Anterior Wall
- Includes laryngeal inlet superiorly and cricoid and arytenoid cartilages inferiorly.
- Piriform fossae (lateral depressions on either side of larynx).
Piriform Fossa
- Lateral boundary: Thyrohyoid membrane and thyroid cartilage lamina.
- Medial boundary: Aryepiglottic fold.
- Contains internal laryngeal nerve and superior laryngeal vessels. Impacted food can damage the nerve, causing loss of sensation and cough reflex.
Pharynx Nerve Supply
- Pharyngeal plexus (glossopharyngeal, vagus, and superior cervical sympathetic ganglion nerves).
Pharynx Blood Supply and Drainage
- Arterial: Ascending pharyngeal (external carotid), ascending palatine and tonsillar (facial), and palatine and pharyngeal (maxillary) arteries.
- Venous: Internal jugular and facial veins.
- Lymphatic: Retropharyngeal and deep cervical lymph nodes.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
