Pharynx

Dr. U Offor
 DEFINITION

Muscular tube
that extends
from the base
of the skull to
C6.
SUBDIVISIONS
Divided into 3 parts:
Nasopharynx.
Oropharynx.
Laryngopharynx.
RELATIONS Posteriorly:
prevertebral muscles.
Laterally :
-Auditory tube.
-Styloid process and its
muscles.
-Thyroid gland
STRUCTURE OF THE WALL
 MUSCLES OF PHARYNX
NAME ORIGIN INSERTION ACTION NERVE

Superior constrictor Medial pterygoid plate, pterygoid Pharyngeal Constricts the Vagus nerve through
hamulus, pterygoamndibular tubercle, pharynx the pharyngeal plexus
raphe, mylohyoid line pharyngeal raphe

Middle constrictor Greater & lesser horns of hyoid pharyngeal raphe Constricts the Vagus nerve through
bone & Stylohyoid ligament pharynx the pharyngeal plexus

Inferior constrictor Arch of cricoid cartilage & pharyngeal raphe Constricts the Vagus nerve through
oblique line of thyroid cartilage pharynx the pharyngeal plexus

Longitudinal (Elevators)
Salpingeopharyngeus Cartilage of auditory tube Lateral wall of Elevate the Vagus nerve through
pharynx pharynx in the pharyngeal plexus
swallowing

Palatopharyngeus Posterior border of the hard Thyroid cartilage, Elevate the Vagus nerve through
palate & palatine aponeurosis lateral wall of pharynx in the pharyngeal plexus
pharynx swallowing

Stylopharyngeus Styloid process Thyroid cartilage Elevate the Glossopharyngeal

pharynx in nerve
swallowing
 MUSCLES

Constrictors:
1- Superior.
2- Middle
3- Inferior.
 CONSTRICTORS
Cricopharyngeus
 LONGITUDINAL MUSCLES

1-Stylopharyngeus.
2-Salpingopharyngeus.
3-Palatopharyngeus.
MOTOR INNERVATION
SENSORY INNERVATION
Nasopharynx:
Maxillary nerve.

Oropharynx:
Glossopharyngeal

Laryngopharynx:
Vagus nerve
NASOPHARYNX
Boundaries:
Roof:
Basilar part of occipital bone.
Body of sphenoid.
Floor :
Sloping upper surface of the
soft palate.

Posterior wall:
Anterior arch of atlas.
 NASOPHARYNX
Lateral wall:
it has:
1. Pharyngeal opening of the
auditory tube.

2. Tubal elevation:

3-Pharyngeal recess:
• Hypertrophy and infection of the
pharyngeal tonsils.

• It causes: obstruction of the

posterior nasal openings.

• The patient: breathes through the

mouth and snores loudly at night.

• It can cause: deafness and recurrent

otitis media due to its close relation
to the auditory tube.
 OROPHARYNX
Roof :
It is the under surface of the
soft palate and the
pharyngeal isthmus.

Floor :
It is the posterior one third of the
tongue and the interval
between the tongue and the
anterior surface of the
epiglottis.
 OROPHARYNX

glossoepiglottic folds.
OROPHARYNX Anterior wall :
oropharyngeal
isthmus.

Posterior wall :
OROPHARYNX Lateral wall :

Palatoglossal arch

Palatopharyngeal
PALATINE TONSIL
 PALATINE TONSIL
RELATIONS :
Lateral:
superior constrictor muscle and fascia.

Medial :
Oropharyngeal isthmus.

Superior:
Soft palate.

Inferior :
Posterior third of tongue.
PALATINE TONSIL

Arterial Supply :
Tonsillar branch of facial
artery.

Venous Drainage:
• External palatine vein.

Lymph Drainage:
Jugulodigastric nodes.
 The tonsils have their maximum
TONSILITIS size in childhood.

They are a common site of

infection.

This is manifested by sore throat

,pyrexia and tender enlarged
jugulodigastric lymph
nodes.

After tonsillectomy ,the external

palatine vein may be the
source of postoperative
bleeding.
PERITONSILAR ABSCESS
QUINSY
It is caused by the spread
of infection from the
palatine tonsil to the
loose connective tissue
outside the capsule.
LARYNGOPHARYNX
It extends from the upper
border of the epiglottis to
the lower border of the
cricoid cartilage (C6).
Anterior wall:
Inlet of the larynx.
Posterior wall:
Bodies of 3rd , 4th ,5th and 6th
cervical vertebrae.
LARYNGOPHARYNX

Lateral wall:
Thyroid cartilage.
Thyrohyoid
membrane.
PIRIFORM FOSSA
 PIRIFORM FOSSA
They are liable to be injured
when a foreign body is lodged
in the fossa.
 PHARYNGEAL
DIVERTICULUM
Accumulation of food in the
pharyngeal pouch