THE PHARYNX

The pharynx is a musculomembranous tube which serves a double role for passage of
food and air. The pharynx is located between the base of the skull and the esophagus
posterior to the nasal and oral cavities. The pharynx is divided into three regions:
DIVISIONS
Nasopharynx
Posterior to nasal cavity with which it communicates via the posterior nasal apertures
(choanae) - except for the soft palate which forms the floor of the nasopharynx, the walls
of the nasopharynx are fixed and noncollapsible - the roof and posterior walls are
supported by the sphenoid bone and basilar part of the occipital bone - contains the
following structures:
Pharyngeal Tonsil - embedded in the mucous membrane of roof and posterior wall called adenoids when enlarged - can interfere with breathing.
Auditory Tubes (Eustachian Tubes) - open into nasopharynx through the lateral walls connects nasopharynx to middle ear to help equalize pressure on both sides of
tympanic membrane.
Levator Veli Palatini - the principal elevating muscle of the soft palate - innervated by
the vagus nerve (CN X).

Oropharynx
Posterior to oral cavity - extends from soft palate to epiglottis - contains the following
structures:
Pharyngeal Tongue (root of tongue)
Palatine Tonsils - embedded in a tonsillar fossa bounded by the palatoglossal and
palatopharyngeal arches and the tongue.
Laryngopharynx - extends from epiglottis to inferior border of cricoid cartilage where it is
continuous with the esophagus - a piriform recess or fossa is found on each side of the
laryngeal inlet - foreign bodies can get lodged in these recesses.
MUSCLES
The pharynx has two "layers" of skeletal muscle, an outer layer of circular constrictor
muscles and an inner layer of longitudinal levator muscles - circular fibers decrease
diameter of pharynx and press upon contents during swallowing - the levators raise the
pharynx during swallowing.

MUSCLES OF
THE PHARYNX
Muscle

Origin

Insertion

Superior
mandible and pharyngeal
Constrictor M. pterygoraphe and
mandibular
occipital bone
raphe

Actions

Innervation

constricts
walls of
pharynx
during
swallowing

pharyngeal
branches of
the vagus
nerve (CN X)

Middle
hyoid bone
raphe of
Constrictor M. and stylohyoid pharynx
ligament
posteriorly
Inferior
cricoid
Constrictor M. cartilage and
thyroid
cartilage
note: inferior
constrictor
surrounds the
upper
esophagus
Salpingoauditory tube side of
pharynx
pharyngeus M.

elevate the
pharynx which
shortens and
widens it
Palatohard palate
sides of
during
pharynx,
pharyngeus M.
swallowing
esophagus and and speech
Stylostyloid process
glossopharyng
posterior border
pharyngeus M. of temporal
eal nerve (CN
of thyroid
bone
IX)
cartilage these muscles
blend at their
insertions

VASCULARIZATION OF THE PHARYNX

ARTERIES OF THE
PHARYNX
Artery

Origin

Ascending
Pharyngeal A.

external carotid
artery

Course

Distribution

ascends on pharynx pharynx

medial to the
internal carotid a.
Ascending
facial artery
passes over the
soft palate and
Palatine A.
upper border of the part of pharynx
superior constrictor
Tonsillar Br.
pierces the superior major supply of
constrictor m.
palatine tonsil
Inferior Thyroid A. thyrocervical trunk see The Subclavian pharyngeal brs.
- a branch of the Artery and its
supply part of
subclavian artery Branches
pharynx
INNERVATION OF THE PHARYNX
NERVES OF THE
PHARYNX
Nerve

Origin

Glosso-pharyngeal
(CN IX) N.

motor to
see The stylopharyngeus
m. and sensory to
Cranial Nerves
mucous membrane
vagus nerve (CN contribute to the motor to superior
X)
pharyngeal plexus and middle
on the pharynx
constrictors,
which also
palatopharyngeus,
includes
salpingosympathetic fibers pharyngeus mm.
from the
sympathetic trunk,
branches from the
glossopharyngeal
n. (sensory) and
branches form the
external laryngeal
n. (motor)

Pharyngeal
Branches of
Vagus N.

Course

Distribution

NERVES OF THE
PHARYNX (CONT.)
Nerve

Origin

Course

Distribution

External Laryngeal superior laryngeal descends deep to inferior constrictor

N.
nerve - branch of the sternothyroid (and cricothyroid
vagus nerve
to reach the
of the larynx)
inferior constrictor
and cricothyroid
Maxillary N. (V2)
trigeminal nerve see The Cranial
sensory to mucous
(CN V)
membranes of soft
Nerves
palate

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Clinical Note: when a physician has you say "ah" one of the things he or she is looking for is
symmetrical elevation of the soft palate which must occur for proper speech and indicates the
integrity of the vagus nerves.