Pharyngeal Muscles

Description

Muscles of the pharynx

Name

• Muscles of the Pharynx
• Pharyngeal Muscles
• Pharynx Muscles
• Pharyngeal Muscle Group
• Pharyngeal Constrictor Muscles

General

• Muscles make up the pharyngeal walls run in both a circular and longitudinal path
• Constrictor muscles: constrict the pharynx during swallowing
• Longitudinal muscles: elevate the pharynx and larynx during swallowing and speaking

Circular/Constrictor

• Superior Pharyngeal Constrictor
  • Origin: Pterygoid hamulus, pterygomandibular raphe, mylohyoid line of mandible, side of the tongue
  • Insertion: pharyngeal raphe, pharyngeal tubercle of occipital bone
  • Action: Constricts upper pharynx to propel bolus downward
• Middle Pharyngeal Constrictor
  • Origin: Stylohyoid ligament, greater and lesser horns of the hyoid bone
  • Insertion: pharyngeal raphe
  • Action: Constricts middle pharynx during swallowing
• Inferior Pharyngeal Constrictor
  • Origin: oblique line of thyroid cartilage, side of cricoid cartilage
  • Insertion: pharyngeal raphe
  • Action: Constricts lower pharynx; important in the final stage of swallowing

Longitudinal/Elevator

• Stylopharyngeus
  • Origin: styloid process of temporal bone
  • Insertion: Blends with pharyngeal constrictors and posterior border of thyroid cartilage
  • Action: elevates pharynx and larynx
• Salpingopharyngeus
  • Origin: Cartilage of the auditory (Eustachian) tube
  • Insertion: Blends with palatopharyngeus
  • Action: Elevates pharynx; helps open auditory tube during swallowing
• Palatopharyngeus
  • Origin: Hard palate and palatine aponeurosis
  • Insertion: posterior border of thyroid cartilage, side of pharynx and esophagus
  • Action: elevates pharynx and larynx, closes nasopharynx during swallowing

Vascular Supply

• Ascending pharyngeal artery (branch of external carotid)
• Ascending palatine and tonsillar branches (facial artery)
• Ascending pharyngeal artery
• Facial artery
• Lingual artery

Innervation

• All of the muscles are innervated by the vagus nerve via the pharyngeal plexus
• Except stylopharyngeus which is innervated by the glossopharyngeal nerve

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Clinical Significance

• Needs to be updated

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See Also

• Throat Anatomy Main
• HEENT Main

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