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The pharynx is a muscular tube that connects the nasal cavities to the larynx and oesophagus. It is divided into three sections: the nasopharynx, oropharynx, and laryngopharynx. The pharyngeal muscles play an integral role in vital processes such as breathing, swallowing, and speaking. The pharyngeal muscles can be categorized as either longitudinal or circular. The longitudinal muscles are the stylopharyngeus, palatopharyngeus, and salpingopharyngeus. These muscles shorten and widen the pharynx, elevating the larynx during swallowing. The stylopharyngeus, in particular, originates from the styloid process of the temporal bone and inserts onto the pharyngeal wall, elevating and expanding the pharynx laterally. The salpingopharyngeus also elevates the pharynx and opens the auditory tube during swallowing. The palatopharyngeus elevates the pharynx and moves the lateral pharyngeal wall toward the midline, propelling food downward during swallowing. The circular pharyngeal constrictor muscles, on the other hand, are the superior, middle, and inferior muscles, which contract sequentially to constrict the pharyngeal lumen and propel food into the oesophagus.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Description | The pharynx is a muscular tube that connects the nasal cavities to the larynx and oesophagus. |
| Divisions | The pharynx is divided into three parts: the nasopharynx, oropharynx, and laryngopharynx (from superior to inferior). |
| Muscles | The pharyngeal muscles are: stylopharyngeus, palatopharyngeus, salpingopharyngeus, superior pharyngeal constrictor, middle pharyngeal constrictor, and inferior pharyngeal constrictor. |
| Muscle Functions | These muscles elevate the pharynx, widen the pharynx, open the Eustachian tube, propel food downward, and close off the nasopharynx during swallowing. |
| Innervation | The pharyngeal muscles are mostly innervated by the vagus nerve (CN X), except for the stylopharyngeus, which is innervated by the glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX). |
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What You'll Learn
- Stylopharyngeus, palatopharyngeus and salpingopharyngeus muscles elevate the pharynx during swallowing
- The stylopharyngeus muscle is supplied by the glossopharyngeal nerve
- The palatopharyngeus muscle originates from the hard palate and inserts onto the pharyngeal wall
- The salpingopharyngeus muscle originates from the cartilage of the auditory tube
- The inferior pharyngeal constrictor muscle acts by constricting the lower portion of the pharynx
Stylopharyngeus, palatopharyngeus and salpingopharyngeus muscles elevate the pharynx during swallowing
The pharynx is a muscular tube that connects the nasal cavities to the larynx and oesophagus. It is divided into three parts: the nasopharynx, oropharynx, and laryngopharynx. The pharyngeal muscles are categorised by their orientation into two groups: circular and longitudinal. The outer circular layer consists of the superior, middle, and inferior pharyngeal constrictor muscles. The inner longitudinal layer comprises the palatopharyngeus, salpingopharyngeus, and stylopharyngeus muscles.
The longitudinal muscles shorten and widen the pharynx and elevate the larynx during swallowing. The stylopharyngeus muscle originates from the styloid process of the temporal bone and inserts into the pharyngeal wall. It is the only pharyngeal muscle innervated by the glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX). The palatopharyngeus originates from the hard palate of the oral cavity and inserts onto the pharyngeal wall. It is innervated by the vagus nerve (CN X). The salpingopharyngeus originates from the Eustachian tube and inserts onto the pharyngeal wall. It is also innervated by the vagus nerve (CN X).
The pharyngeal muscles and their corresponding nerves originate from the third and fourth branchial (or pharyngeal) arches. The palatopharyngeus elevates the pharynx superiorly during swallowing. The salpingopharyngeus muscle originates from the auditory tube's inferior aspect and inserts onto the palatopharyngeus muscle. Its contraction raises the pharynx and opens the auditory tube, equalising ear pressure during swallowing. The stylopharyngeus muscle originates from the styloid process of the temporal bone and inserts onto the thyroid cartilage, blending with the fibres of the palatopharyngeus muscle. Its contraction elevates the pharynx and the larynx.
These longitudinal muscles elevate the pharynx and larynx, aiding in swallowing. The pharyngeal muscles receive dual innervation from the glossopharyngeal (ninth cranial nerve or cranial nerve IX) and vagus (10th cranial nerve or cranial nerve X) nerves. This dual innervation facilitates synchronous food propulsion from the oral cavity to the oesophagus.
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The stylopharyngeus muscle is supplied by the glossopharyngeal nerve
The pharynx is a muscular tube that connects the nasal cavities to the larynx and oesophagus. It is common to both the alimentary and respiratory tracts. The pharyngeal plexus is the main nervous plexus that supplies the pharynx. The pharyngeal muscles are mostly innervated by the vagus nerve, except for the stylopharyngeus muscle, which is supplied by the glossopharyngeal nerve.
The stylopharyngeus muscle is a long, thin muscle that originates from the styloid process of the temporal bone. It is cylindrical superiorly and becomes flat inferiorly. The muscle fibres of the stylopharyngeus may blend with the other pharyngeal constrictors. The glossopharyngeal nerve runs on the lateral side of the stylopharyngeus muscle, crossing over it to reach the tongue. The stylopharyngeus muscle is the only muscle of the pharynx innervated by the glossopharyngeal nerve.
The stylopharyngeus muscle plays an important role in swallowing and speaking. It elevates the pharynx and expands it laterally. It also elevates the larynx. During breathing, the stylopharyngeus muscle has tonic and phasic expiratory activities, which help to support the nasopharynx. The stylopharyngeus muscle is, therefore, crucial for maintaining the structural integrity of the nasopharynx during inspiration.
The glossopharyngeal nerve contains branchial motor fibres that innervate the stylopharyngeus muscle. These fibres arise from the tympanic nerve, which originates from the inferior ganglion. The nerve passes through the tympanic canaliculus and into the tympanic cavity, where it divides into branches forming the tympanic plexus. One of these branches gives rise to the lesser petrosal nerve, which contains the fibres that supply the parotid gland.
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The palatopharyngeus muscle originates from the hard palate and inserts onto the pharyngeal wall
The pharynx is a muscular tube that connects the nasal cavities to the larynx and oesophagus. It is part of both the alimentary and respiratory tracts. The pharyngeal muscles are mostly innervated by the vagus nerve, with the exception of the stylopharyngeus, which is innervated by the glossopharyngeal nerve. The pharyngeal muscles are divided into three circular constrictors and three longitudinal muscles. The longitudinal muscles are the stylopharyngeus, palatopharyngeus, and salpingopharyngeus. These muscles shorten and widen the pharynx, elevating the larynx during swallowing.
The palatopharyngeus muscle is one of the longitudinal muscles of the pharynx. It originates from the hard palate of the oral cavity and inserts onto the pharyngeal wall. The muscle fibres are divided by the levator veli palatini into anterior and posterior fascicles or layers, which converge into a compact muscle belly at the posterolateral border of the soft palate. The muscle then descends posterolaterally along the pharyngeal wall, forming a projection that is posterior to the pharyngeal and anterior to the palatine tonsil, known as the palatopharyngeal arch.
The palatopharyngeus muscle assists deglutition, or the process of swallowing, by shortening and elevating the pharynx superiorly, anteriorly, and medially. This action closes the laryngeal airway, preventing food from entering the airway. The muscle is innervated by the vagus nerve (CN X) and supplied by the ascending palatine branch of the facial artery, the greater palatine branch of the maxillary artery, and the pharyngeal branch of the ascending pharyngeal artery.
The pharyngeal plexus is the main nervous plexus that supplies the pharynx. The sensory branches originate from the glossopharyngeal nerve, which runs into the plexus. The motor branches come from the pharyngeal plexus and carry fibres from the vagus nerve, providing motor innervation to all the muscles of the pharynx and soft palate, except for the stylopharyngeus and tensor veli palatini muscles.
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The salpingopharyngeus muscle originates from the cartilage of the auditory tube
The pharynx is a muscular tube that connects the nasal cavities to the larynx and oesophagus. It is part of both the alimentary and respiratory tracts. The pharyngeal muscles can be divided into longitudinal and circular muscles. The longitudinal muscles are the stylopharyngeus, palatopharyngeus, and salpingopharyngeus. These muscles act to shorten and widen the pharynx, and elevate the larynx during swallowing.
The salpingopharyngeus muscle elevates the pharynx by shortening and widening its lumen, which facilitates speaking and swallowing. It also assists the tensor veli palatini muscle to open the auditory tube during swallowing. This action helps some people to equalise the pressure between the middle ear and the external environment. The tensor veli palatini muscle is supplied by the mandibular nerve (CN V3).
The stylopharyngeus muscle, meanwhile, originates from the styloid process of the temporal bone and inserts onto the pharyngeal wall. It is innervated by the glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX). The palatopharyngeus muscle originates from the hard palate of the oral cavity and inserts onto the pharyngeal wall. It is innervated by the vagus nerve (CN X).
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The inferior pharyngeal constrictor muscle acts by constricting the lower portion of the pharynx
The pharynx is a muscular tube that connects the nasal cavities to the larynx and oesophagus. It is part of both the alimentary and respiratory tracts. The pharyngeal muscles are organised into an outer circular layer and an inner longitudinal sheet. The outer layer consists of the superior, middle, and inferior pharyngeal constrictor muscles. The inner longitudinal layer comprises the palatopharyngeus, salpingopharyngeus, and stylopharyngeus muscles.
The inferior pharyngeal constrictor muscle is one of three pharyngeal constrictor muscles that form a muscular sleeve with a strong internal lining on its fascial aspect, known as the pharyngobasilar fascia. The inferior pharyngeal constrictor muscle arises from the oblique line of the thyroid cartilage of the larynx and the lateral aspect of the cricoid cartilage of the larynx. It acts by constricting the lower portion of the pharynx. This muscle starts at the posterior border of the hard palate on the palatine aponeurosis and finishes on the posterior aspect of the lamina of the thyroid cartilage of the larynx, as do the other paired muscles.
The inferior pharyngeal constrictor is subdivided into the thyropharyngeus superiorly and the cricopharyngeus inferiorly. The thyropharyngeus originates from the thyroid cartilage, whereas the cricopharyngeus arises from the cricoid cartilage and merges with the oesophageal muscle. Both segments attach to the median pharyngeal raphe. The inferior constrictor compresses the lower pharynx. The coordinated movements of the constrictor muscles allow them to propel food smoothly from the oral cavity into the oesophagus.
The pharyngeal constrictor muscles contract sequentially from superior to inferior to constrict the pharyngeal lumen and thus propel the bolus of food inferiorly into the oesophagus. The inferior pharyngeal constrictor muscle elevates the pharynx in order to close off the nasopharynx during swallowing. The stylopharyngeus, palatopharyngeus, and salpingopharyngeus muscles are longitudinal muscles that act to shorten and widen the pharynx, and elevate the larynx during swallowing.
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Frequently asked questions
The pharyngeal muscles that elevate the pharynx are the palatopharyngeus, stylopharyngeus, and salpingopharyngeus.
The palatopharyngeus elevates the pharynx and moves the lateral pharyngeal wall towards the midline, propelling a bolus of food downward during deglutition.
The stylopharyngeus elevates the pharynx and expands it laterally. It is the only pharyngeal muscle innervated by the glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX).
The salpingopharyngeus elevates the pharynx and opens the auditory tube during swallowing. It is innervated by the glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX).
The pharyngeal constrictor muscles (superior, middle, and inferior) work together to constrict the pharynx and propel food downward. The cricopharyngeus muscle relaxes during deglutition to allow passage into the oesophagus.
