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The pharynx, also known as the throat, is a pathway for food, liquids, and air. The pharyngeal muscles are a group of muscles located in the pharynx that are responsible for the movement of food from the mouth to the oesophagus. The pharyngeal muscles that elevate the pharynx during swallowing include the longitudinal muscles, stylopharyngeus, palatopharyngeus, and salpingopharyngeus. The levator veli palatini muscle elevates the soft palate, closing off entry to the nasopharynx during swallowing.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Muscles that elevate the pharynx | Longitudinal muscles, stylopharyngeus, palatopharyngeus, salpingopharyngeus, suprahyoid muscles |
| Function | Elevate the larynx, shorten the pharynx, facilitate swallowing |
| Location | Pharynx, continuous with the oesophagus |
| Structure | Half-cylinder musculofascial structure |
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What You'll Learn
Stylopharyngeus, palatopharyngeus, and salpingopharyngeus
The stylopharyngeus, palatopharyngeus, and salpingopharyngeus muscles all play a role in elevating the pharynx.
The stylopharyngeus muscle is a long, slender muscle in the head that originates from the temporal styloid process. It acts to elevate the pharynx and larynx, and dilate the pharynx, facilitating swallowing. It is the only muscle of the pharynx not to originate in the pharyngeal wall and is innervated by the glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX).
The palatopharyngeus muscle, on the other hand, is a small, long, and fleshy muscle in the roof of the mouth. It arises from the soft palate and, through its contraction, helps pull the pharynx upward over a bolus of food, preventing it from passing into the nasopharynx.
The salpingopharyngeus muscle is absent in about 40% of individuals and is more common in thin people. It raises the pharynx and larynx during swallowing and laterally draws the pharyngeal walls up. It is innervated by the pharyngeal plexus of the vagus nerve.
Together, these muscles contribute to the elevation of the pharynx and facilitate essential functions such as swallowing and protecting the airways.
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Suprahyoid muscles
The suprahyoid muscles are a group of four muscles located superior to the hyoid bone of the neck. They facilitate chewing, swallowing, and phonation. They also assist in neck flexion and play a crucial role in airway management. The four suprahyoid muscles are the stylohyoid, digastric, mylohyoid, and geniohyoid.
The stylohyoid muscle is a thin, long muscle that is located superiorly to the posterior belly of the digastric muscle. It arises from the styloid process of the temporal bone and attaches to the lateral aspect of the hyoid bone. The stylohyoid muscle initiates the swallowing action by pulling the hyoid bone in a posterior and superior direction, widening the oesophagus.
The digastric muscle is comprised of two muscular bellies, the anterior and posterior, which are connected by an intermediate tendon. The anterior belly arises from the digastric fossa of the mandible, while the posterior belly arises from the mastoid process of the temporal bone. The tendon attaches to the hyoid bone via a fibrous sling. The digastric muscle aids in chin depression and retraction, assisting with the extreme opening of the mouth, such as yawning or taking a large bite. It also elevates the hyoid bone and the floor of the oral cavity, contributing to swallowing.
The mylohyoid muscle has a square morphology and forms the muscular floor of the mouth. It lies superficially to the digastric muscles and contributes to the Pirogov triangle, which contains the lingual artery. The mylohyoid muscle elevates the hyoid bone, tenses the floor of the mouth, and plays a role in deglutition and speech.
The geniohyoid muscle is located deep to the mylohyoid muscle, on either side of the midline of the neck. It arises from the inferior mental spine of the mandible and attaches to the hyoid bone. The geniohyoid moves the hyoid bone upward and forward, widening the airway passage and shortening the floor of the mouth. This action is particularly important during swallowing, as it helps to widen the pharynx.
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Longitudinal muscles
The longitudinal muscles are a group of muscles that run longitudinally down the pharynx. They work together with the constrictor muscles during swallowing, with the constrictors narrowing the pharynx and the longitudinal muscles elevating the pharynx and shortening it.
The longitudinal muscles are also known as the long pharyngeal muscles, which include the stylopharyngeus, palatopharyngeus, and salpingopharyngeus. These muscles contract to cause the movement of food from the mouth to the oesophagus. They also displace the hyolaryngeal complex, which includes the hyoid bone, larynx, trachea, and cricopharyngeus muscle, forming the pharyngoesophageal segment (PES). The stylopharyngeus, in particular, attaches to the posterior thyroid cartilage and facilitates laryngeal elevation.
The palatopharyngeus is a muscle of the soft palate. It attaches to the upper surface of the palatine aponeurosis and passes posteriorly and inferiorly to blend with the deep surface of the pharyngeal wall. It is innervated by CN X via the pharyngeal plexus. The salpingopharyngeus originates on the inferior aspect of the pharyngotympanic tube and descends to blend with the palatopharyngeus.
The scalenus anterior is another muscle that is related to the pharynx. It originates from the transverse processes of cervical vertebrae C3-C6 and inserts into the scalene tubercle of the first rib. It functions to bend the neck forward, laterally, and rotate it to the opposite side. It also acts as an accessory muscle of respiration, helping to elevate the first rib.
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Constrictor muscles
The pharynx is a muscular tube that is part of the digestive system, connecting the oral and nasal cavities to the oesophagus and larynx. The pharyngeal muscles are arranged in two layers: an outer circular layer and an inner longitudinal layer. The outer layer consists of three constrictor muscles: the superior, middle, and inferior pharyngeal constrictors. These muscles form a sleeve around the inner layer, which is made up of the palatopharyngeus, salpingopharyngeus, and stylopharyngeus muscles.
The superior pharyngeal constrictor is the uppermost of the three constrictors and is located within the oropharynx. It originates from the pterygomandibular ligament, the alveolar process of the mandible, the medial pterygoid plate, and the pterygoid hamulus of the sphenoid bone. The superior constrictor inserts onto the pharyngeal tubercle of the skull base and the pharyngeal raphe, where it converges with the other constrictor muscles. This muscle constricts the wall of the pharynx during swallowing, helping to propel food downwards.
The middle pharyngeal constrictor arises from the greater and lesser horns of the hyoid bone and the stylohyoid ligament. It inserts onto the median pharyngeal raphe, blending with the superior and inferior constrictor fibres. The middle constrictor constricts the middle pharyngeal portion during swallowing.
The inferior pharyngeal constrictor is subdivided into the thyropharyngeus superiorly and the cricopharyngeus inferiorly. The thyropharyngeus originates from the thyroid cartilage, while 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, working together with the other constrictor muscles to smoothly propel food from the oral cavity into the oesophagus.
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Scalenus anterior muscle
The scalenus anterior muscle, also known as the anterior scalene, is one of the lateral muscles of the neck, belonging to the scalene group. It is located deeply at the side of the neck, behind the sternocleidomastoid muscle. The scalenus anterior muscle is anterior to the subclavian artery and posterior to the phrenic nerve, with the phrenic nerve crossing its anterior surface.
The scalenus anterior muscle arises from the anterior tubercles of the transverse processes of the cervical vertebrae C3-C6. It is inserted by a narrow, flat tendon into the scalene tubercle on the inner border of the first rib, in front of the subclavian groove. The muscle acts on the joints between the cervical vertebrae and can produce different movements depending on the position of the head and type of muscle contraction. For example, when the head is in the anatomical position (upright and facing anteriorly), unilateral contraction of the muscle causes ipsilateral flexion of the neck (to the same side).
The scalenus anterior muscle can act individually or in synergy with the other two scalenes (Middle and Posterior). Bilateral contraction of the scalenus anterior muscle, along with the other scalene muscles, causes anterior flexion of the neck. Additionally, the scalenus anterior muscle can lift the first rib and bend the neck to the same side as the acting muscle.
The scalenus anterior muscle is supplied by the anterior rami of the spinal nerves C4-C6, specifically cervical nerves C5 and C6. The blood supply to the scalenus anterior muscle, as well as all other scalene muscles, comes from the ascending cervical branch of the inferior thyroid artery.
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Frequently asked questions
The pharyngeal muscles that elevate the pharynx during swallowing are the longitudinal muscles.
Examples of longitudinal muscles include the stylopharyngeus, palatopharyngeus, and salpingopharyngeus.
The stylopharyngeus, palatopharyngeus, and salpingopharyngeus work together to shorten the pharynx and elevate the larynx.
The stylopharyngeus, palatopharyngeus, and salpingopharyngeus are also responsible for displacing the hyolaryngeal complex, which includes the hyoid bone, larynx, trachea, and cricopharyngeus muscle, forming the pharyngoesophageal segment (PES).
