Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Anatomy Quiz 4 > Pharynx and Soft Palate > Flashcards

Pharynx and Soft Palate Flashcards

1
Q

Pharynx

A

The pharynx is a vertically oriented funnel-shaped half-cylinder and serves as the passageway for both air and food.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Boundaries of the Pharynx

A
  • It is suspended in the midline from the basal surface of the occipital bone (pharyngeal tubercle) by its submucosal layer (pharyngobasilar fascia).
  • Proximally, it is the direct continuation of the nasal and oral cavities.
  • Distally, it leads into the larynx before continuing as the esophagus
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Transition from Pharynx to Esophagus

A

This transition occurs anteriorly at the level of the cricoid cartilage and posteriorly at the level of the C6 vertebrae.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Divisions of the Pharynx

A

The pharynx is divided into three regions:
• Nasopharynx - posterior to the posterior nasal apertures (choanae) of the nasal cavities
• Oropharynx - posterior to the fauces of the oral cavity
• Laryngopharynx - posterior to the larynx

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Functions of the Pharynx

A
  • Deglutition (swallowing)
  • Respiration
  • Speech
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Deglutition

A

Material passes from the mouth to the esophagus by way of the pharynx

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Respiration

A

Air passes from the nasal cavity (or mouth) to the trachea/lungs by way of the pharynx

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Speech

A
  • Air passes from the larynx / vocal cords to the mouth by way of the pharynx
  • Sound resonates within the pharynx and be altered
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Structures Involved in Deglutition

A
  • Mouth, cheeks, tongue, teeth

* salivary glands, palate and pharynx

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Goals of Safe Deglutition

A
  • Bolus formed - prevent dispersion
  • suitable size & consistency
  • Differential pressures must develop for aboral propulsion
  • Prevent entry of food into nasopharynx & larynx
  • Suspend respiration while food is passing
  • Rapid passage of food
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Structures Involved in Respiration

A
  • Nares, nasal cavities
  • Nasopharynx
  • Oropharynx
  • Associated glands
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Goals of Safe Respiration

A
  • Remove particulate matter!
  • Warm, humidify and cleanse air

The airway and the foodway cross in the oropharynx

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Structures Involved in Speech

A
  • Lungs & larynx
  • Nasal cavities and sinuses
  • Nasopharynx
  • Oropharynx
  • Associated glands
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Production of Speech

A

• Source of energy: elastic recoil of lungs moves air
• Oscillation of vocal cords
• Resonator – depends on size and shape of:
a) pharynx
b) oral cavity
c) nasal cavity
d) paranasal sinuses

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Tissue Layers of the Pharyngeal Wall

A 
From interior to exterior:
• Mucosa
• Submucosa (pharyngobasilar fascia)
• Muscular layer
• Buccopharyngeal fascia (Exterior)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Mucosa

A

The innermost layer has pharyngeal glands (mixed salivary glands)
• Nasopharynx: pseudostratified ciliated epithelium (respiratory type)
• Oropharynx and laryngopharynx: stratified squamous epithelium

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Submucosa (pharyngobasilar fascia)

A

A strong continuous inner layer of fascia that supports the pharynx (especially where gaps are present between muscles of the pharynx)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Muscular layer

A

The orientation of the muscular fibers of the 2 layers is opposite the typical GI tract muscular arrangement (inner circular/outer longitudinal)
• Inner layer
• Outer layer

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Muscles of Inner Muscular layer

A

3 longitudinal (elevator) muscles
• palatopharyngeus
• stylopharyngeus
• salpingopharyngeus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Muscles of Outer Muscular layer

A

Outer layer - 3 circular muscles
• superior constrictor
• middle constrictor
• inferior constrictor

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Buccopharyngeal fascia (Exterior)

A

Contains the pharyngeal plexus of nerves

22
Q

Retopharyngeal Space

A

It’s an area of loose connective tissue between the
buccopharyngeal fascia of the pharynx and the prevertebral fascia. During swallowing, It permits the necessary expansion and movement of the pharynx, larynx, trachea and esophagus

23
Q

Retrovisceral space

A

The retopharyngeal space extends from the base of the skull to the infrahyoid area where it changes
name to the retrovisceral space. The retrovesical space frequently terminates in the superior mediastinum at the level of T3-T4 when the prevertebral fascia obliterates the space by adhering to the esophagus.

Virulent infections in the neck, therefore, can spread into the mediastinum.

24
Q

Pharyngeal “skeleton”

A

The pharyngeal skeleton involves the following bones and cartilage:
• base of the skull (pharyngeal tubercle) & medial pterygoid plate of the sphenoid bone
• mandible
• hyoid bone
• thyroid cartilage
• cricoid cartilage

25
Q

Pharyngeal Constrictor Muscles

General Features

A

• originate bilaterally from the sides of the head and neck
• insert on a midline fibrous pharyngeal raphe
• each muscle is partially overlapped by the muscle immediately caudal to it
• sequential contraction of the constrictors aids in aboral (away from the mouth) propulsion of food toward the esophagus
• gaps exist between the base of the skull and the superior constrictor muscle of the pharynx as well as between the individual constrictor muscles
themselves.
• the continuous layer of pharyngobasilar fascia fills in these gaps (especially superiorly).
• various important structures penetrate this fascia to reach the interior of the pharynx.

26
Q

Superior constrictor

A

• originates on the pterygomandibular raphe and the adjacent bony structures: the pterygoid hamulus and posterior end of the mylohyoid line of the
mandible.
• forms part a semi-cylinder completed anteriorly by the buccinator and obicularis oris muscles

27
Q

Middle constrictor

A

• originates mostly from the greater horn of hyoid bone

28
Q

Inferior constrictor

A
  • originates from the thyroid cartilage (oblique line) and cricoid cartilage
  • Thyropharyngeal part: fibers overlap the middle constrictor
  • Cricopharyngeal part - main component of upper esophageal sphincter: narrowest passage of the entire GI tract
29
Q

Zone of Sparse fibers

A

Between the Cricopharyngeus and the Thyroparyngeous portions of the Inferior constrictor, there is an area where the mucosa is unsupported by musculature.
This is known as the “zone of sparse fibers” and is a potential for a diverticulum

30
Q

Pharyngeal Musculature Gaps

A

Due to the shape of the three constrictor muscles, there are four gaps between their anterior origins.
• Gap 1: between base of skull and superior constrictor
• Gap 2: between superior and middle constrictors
• Gap 3: between middle and inferior constrictors (filled by the thyroid membrane)
• Gap 4: inferior to the inferior constrictor

31
Q

Structures in Gap 1

A
  • auditory tube

* levator veli palatini muscle

32
Q

Structures in Gap 2

A
  • stylopharyngeus muscle

* glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX)

33
Q

Structures in Gap 3

A
  • internal branch of the superior laryngeal nerve (vagus CN X)
  • superior laryngeal artery (branch of the superior thyroid artery)
34
Q

Structures in Gap 4

A
  • recurrent laryngeal nerve

* inferior laryngeal artery (branch of the inferior thyroid artery)

35
Q

Pharyngeal Longitudinal Muscles

General Features

A
  • These muscles descend and insert into the pharyngeal wall by blending with each other and the constrictors.
  • They elevate and shorten the pharynx during swallowing.
36
Q

Stylopharyngeus

A
  • originates from the styloid process

* only muscle of the pharynx innervated by the glossopharyngeal (CN IX) nerve

37
Q

Salpingopharyngeus

A

• elevates the pharynx and participates with the tensor veli palitini to open the cartilaginous end of the auditory tube during swallowing

38
Q

Palatopharyngeus

A
  • lowers the soft palate
  • constricts the faucial isthmus
  • shortens the pharynx during swallowing by pulling it up, forwards and medial
  • innervated by the vagus (CN X) nerve
39
Q

Interior of the Pharynx

A

Comprises of :
• Nasopharynx
• Oropharynx
• Laryngopharynx

40
Q

Nasopharynx

A

This is the are posterior to the nasal apertures (choanae) of the nasal cavities and superior to
the soft palate

41
Q

Contents of Nasopharynx

A
  • adenoids (nasopharyngeal tonsils) - lymphoid tissue within the pharyngeal fornix (roof)
  • auditory (pharyngotympanic, eustachian) tube - a bony and cartilaginous tube with a funnel-shaped opening into the nasopharynx that serves to equalize pressure on either side of the tympanic membrane by allowing the passage of air between the nasopharynx and the tympanic cavity
  • torus tubarius - elevation produced by the cartilage of the auditory tube
  • tubal tonsils - lymphatic tissue around the auditory opening
42
Q

Oropharynx

A

Area posterior to the palatoglossal arch, fauces (oropharyngeal isthmus) of the oral cavity and the posterior part of the tongue.
Superior boundary is the soft palate
Inferior boundary is the tip of the epiglottis

43
Q

Contents of the Oropharynx

A

1) Palatine arches:
• Palatoglossal arch – mucosa overlying the palatoglossus muscle. Forms part of the anterior boundary of the oropharynx. It’s between the soft palate and the tongue
• Palatopharyngeal arch - mucosa overlying the
palatopharyngeus muscle

2) Palatine tonsils – lymphoid tissue lying in the tonsillar fossae between the palatoglossal and palatopharyngeal arches
3) Posterior 1/3 of the tongue - forms anterior wall of the oropharynx
4) Lingual tonsil - Nodules of lymphoid tissue on the pharyngeal portion of the tongue

44
Q

Valleculae

A

Shallow depressions on the lingual surface of the
epiglottis
* An important landmark for endotracheal intubation and also a site where foreign bodies may lodge

45
Q

Laryngopharynx (hypopharynx)

A

Area posterior to the larynx: extends from the tip of the epiglottis to the beginning of the esophagus at C6 (surface anatomy: just above the level of hyoid bone to the lower border of the cricoid cartilage)

46
Q

Contents of the Laryngopharynx)

A
  • Piriform fossae - anterolateral recesses of the pharynx extending forward on either side of the of the larynx; site where foreign bodies often lodge (eg fish bone, penny)
  • Aryepiglottic folds - Mucosal folda that define the boundary between the pharynx and larynx. The opening between the folds is the aditus (entrance) to the larynx (laryngeal inlet)
47
Q

Blood Supply to the Pharynx

A

• Ascending Pharyngeal artery (main supply)
• Multiple branches of External Carotid artery:
Tonsilar and Ascending Palatine branches of the Facial artery

48
Q

Pharyngeal venous plexus

A

The pharyngeal venous plexus collects blood on the posterior aspect of the pharynx.
• superiorly, it drains into the pterygoid plexus located in the infratemporal
fossa
• inferiorly, it drains directly or into tributaries of the internal jugular vein.

49
Q

Pharyngeal nerve plexus

A

The pharyngeal plexus lies on the external surface of the pharynx within the buccopharyngeal fascia. It is formed by sensory branches of the glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX) plus sensory and motor branches from the vagus nerve (CN X).

50
Q

Motor innervation of Pharynx

A 
All muscles of the pharynx are innervated by the vagus nerve (CN X) with the exception of the stylopharyngeus muscle which is innervated by the
glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX).
51
Q

Sensory innervation

A
  • nasopharynx - pharyngeal branch of the maxillary nerve (CN V2)
  • oropharynx - glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX)
  • laryngopharynx - vagus (CN X)
52
Q

Lymphatics

A 
Immune defense is provided by Waldeyer’s ring. This oblique circumpharyngeal ring of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) “guards” the entrance into the respiratory and digestive tracts.
It is composed of the:
• nasopharyngeal tonsils
• palatine tonsils
• tubal tonsils
• lingual tonsils

Anatomy Quiz 4 (5 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions