Logan Steele
The salpingopharyngeus is a muscle of the head and neck and is part of the muscular wall of the pharynx. It is one of the inner longitudinal muscles of the pharynx and is involved in the process of swallowing and speaking. The muscle is absent in about 40% of individuals and is more common in thin people.
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What You'll Learn
The Salpingopharyngeus Muscle and Speech
The salpingopharyngeus is a muscle of the head and neck and is part of the inner longitudinal muscles of the pharynx. It is absent in about 40% of individuals, and more common in thin individuals.
The muscle contributes to the muscular wall of the pharynx and aids in swallowing and speech by shortening and widening the pharynx. It raises the pharynx and larynx during swallowing and opens the pharyngeal orifice of the Eustachian tube, allowing for the equalization of pressure between the middle ear and the external environment. This process is used by some people to deliberately equalize the pressure between the middle ear and the environment.
The salpingopharyngeus is one of the pharyngeal muscles that receive dual innervation from the glossopharyngeal (9th cranial nerve or cranial nerve IX) and vagus (10th cranial nerve or cranial nerve X) nerves. This facilitates synchronous food propulsion from the oral cavity to the oesophagus. The muscle is supplied by the ascending palatine artery, greater palatine artery, and the pharyngeal branch of the ascending pharyngeal artery.
The pharyngeal muscles are organised into an outer circular layer and an inner longitudinal sheet surrounding the lumen. The outer layer consists of the superior, middle, and inferior pharyngeal constrictor muscles, while the inner longitudinal layer comprises the palatopharyngeus, salpingopharyngeus, and stylopharyngeus muscles. Understanding the anatomy and function of these muscles is essential in treating various speech, deglutition, and airway disorders.
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The Salpingopharyngeus Muscle and Swallowing
The salpingopharyngeus is a slender muscle in the head and neck region. It is one of the inner longitudinal muscles of the pharynx. The salpingopharyngeus muscle is absent in about 40% of individuals and is more commonly found in thin people.
The salpingopharyngeus muscle aids deglutition (swallowing) and speech by shortening and widening the pharynx. It raises the pharynx and larynx during swallowing and also opens the pharyngeal orifice of the Eustachian tube, allowing for the equalization of pressure between the pharynx and the middle ear. This process is used by some people to deliberately equalize the pressure between the middle ear and the external environment.
The muscle is located posteriorly to the torus tubarius, coursing through the vertical fold of the nasopharyngeal mucous membrane called the salpingopharyngeal fold. The salpingopharyngeus muscle is innervated by branches of the pharyngeal plexus that carry the fibres from the vagus nerve (CN X). It receives arterial supply from the ascending palatine artery, greater palatine artery, and the pharyngeal branch of the ascending pharyngeal artery.
The salpingopharyngeus muscle is part of the muscular wall of the pharynx and belongs to the inner longitudinal group of pharyngeal muscles, together with the stylopharyngeus and palatopharyngeus muscles. It originates from the cartilaginous part of the auditory tube, specifically from its inferior part that bounds the tube’s nasopharyngeal opening. It courses inferiorly and fuses with the palatopharyngeus muscle in the oropharynx.
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The Salpingopharyngeus Muscle and the Eustachian Tube
The salpingopharyngeus is a slender, longitudinal muscle that contributes to the muscular wall of the pharynx. It is located in the head and neck region, posteriorly to the torus tubarius, and is one of the inner longitudinal muscles of the pharynx. The salpingopharyngeus muscle is absent in about 40% of individuals and is more common in thin individuals.
The salpingopharyngeus muscle aids in swallowing (deglutition) and speech by shortening and widening the pharynx, which facilitates the passage of food and improves vocal resonance. It also assists in equalizing the pressure between the middle ear and the external environment. This is achieved by opening the pharyngeal orifice of the Eustachian tube during swallowing, allowing for pressure equalization between the pharynx and the middle ear. The Eustachian tube, also known as the pharyngotympanic tube or auditory tube, is a canal that connects the nasopharynx to the middle ear. It plays a crucial role in equalization, oxygenation, and drainage of the tympanic cavity in the middle ear.
The salpingopharyngeus muscle receives its arterial supply from branches of the ascending palatine artery, greater palatine artery, and the pharyngeal branch of the ascending pharyngeal artery. It is innervated by the pharyngeal plexus, which carries fibres from the vagus nerve (cranial nerve X). The muscle is unique in that it is relaxed during swallowing (deglutition) but contracts at all other times.
The Eustachian tube has multiple functions, including equalization, oxygenation, and drainage of the middle ear. It is normally closed, with its proximal walls collapsed, but it can be actively opened with the help of accessory muscles like the salpingopharyngeus, or passively by air movement during actions such as yawning or chewing. This process of opening the Eustachian tube to relieve pressure in the middle ear is commonly referred to as "clearing the ear."
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The Salpingopharyngeus Muscle and the Vagus Nerve
The salpingopharyngeus is a slender, longitudinal muscle of the head and neck, and one of the inner longitudinal muscles of the pharynx. It contributes to the muscular wall of the pharynx and aids in swallowing and speech by shortening and widening the pharynx. It also helps to equalize pressure between the middle ear and the external environment by opening the auditory (Eustachian) tube during swallowing.
The salpingopharyngeus muscle is absent in about 40% of individuals and is more common in thin individuals. It is unusual in that it is relaxed during deglutition (swallowing) but contracts at all other times. The muscle receives arterial supply from the ascending palatine artery, greater palatine artery, and the pharyngeal branch of the ascending pharyngeal artery.
The vagus nerve is a cranial nerve that arises from the 4th branchial arch and is responsible for the development of the pharyngeal and laryngeal muscles, among other things. The vagus nerve has several functions, including regulating the contraction of lymphatic cells and providing involuntary muscle control of organs it innervates, such as the cardiac, pulmonary, and esophageal muscles.
The salpingopharyngeus muscle is innervated by branches of the pharyngeal plexus that carry the fibers from the vagus nerve. The pharyngeal branches of the vagus nerve supply the levator veli palatini, salpingopharyngeus, palatopharyngeus, and the uvula. The vagus nerve thus plays a role in the function of the salpingopharyngeus muscle, which is involved in swallowing and speech.
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The Salpingopharyngeus Muscle and the Arteries
The salpingopharyngeus is a slender, longitudinal muscle of the pharynx that contributes to the muscular wall of the pharynx. It is one of the inner longitudinal muscles of the pharynx, along with the stylopharyngeus and palatopharyngeus. This muscle aids in swallowing by shortening and widening the pharynx, and it also plays a role in speech and breathing.
The salpingopharyngeus muscle has a unique function during swallowing, as it is relaxed during the act of swallowing (deglutition) but contracts at all other times. It raises the pharynx and larynx during swallowing and laterally draws the pharyngeal walls up. This action helps to open the pharyngeal orifice of the Eustachian tube, allowing for equalization of pressure between the middle ear and the external environment. This process is also known as "popping your ears" and is often done deliberately by some individuals to equalize pressure during flights or deep-water diving.
The muscle is located posteriorly to the torus tubarius and passes through the vertical fold of the nasopharyngeal mucous membrane, known as the salpingopharyngeal fold. It originates from the cartilaginous part of the auditory tube, specifically from its inferior part that bounds the tube's nasopharyngeal opening. It then courses inferiorly and inserts by fusing with the palatopharyngeus muscle in the oropharynx.
The salpingopharyngeus muscle receives its arterial supply from three sources: the ascending palatine artery, the greater palatine artery, and the pharyngeal branch of the ascending pharyngeal artery. These arteries provide oxygenated blood to the muscle, ensuring its proper function and facilitating the complex movements of the pharynx and larynx during various physiological processes such as swallowing, speaking, and breathing.
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Frequently asked questions
The salpingopharyngeus is a muscle of the head and neck, and one of the inner longitudinal muscles of the pharynx. It is located posteriorly to the torus tubarius.
The salpingopharyngeus muscle aids speech and swallowing by shortening and widening the pharynx. It also helps in equalizing the pressure between the middle ear and the external environment by opening the auditory (Eustachian) tube.
The salpingopharyngeus receives arterial supply from the ascending palatine artery, greater palatine artery, and the pharyngeal branch of the ascending pharyngeal artery. It is innervated by branches of the pharyngeal plexus that carry the fibres from the vagus nerve.
