Muscles and walls of the pharynx

General

The muscles that make up the pharyngeal walls run both circularly on the outside and longitudinally on the inside. The three pharyngeal constrictor muscles make up the outer layer of the wall while the inner layer is comprised of paired muscles. The superior, middle and inferior pharyngeal constrictor muscles form a muscular sleeve that has a strong internal lining on its fascial aspect known as the pharyngobasilar fascia.

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These muscles contract involuntarily in a sequence known as peristalsis which helps push the food bolus down from the oral cavity and into the esophagus which occurs during and immediately after swallowing. The three paired muscles of the inner pharynx act as a group in order to elevate the larynx, shorten the pharynx and act during swallowing and speaking. These muscles are known as the stylopharyngeus, the palatopharyngeus and the salpingopharyngeus.

There are several gaps that exist between the folds of the pharyngeal constrictor muscles which allow structures to enter and exit the pharynx. Between the superior constrictor muscle and the skull , the levator palatini muscle, the auditory tube and the ascending palatine artery pass through. Between the superior and middle pharyngeal constrictor muscles, the stylopharyngeus muscle and the glossopharyngeal nerve pass through. Between the middle and inferior pharyngeal constrictor muscles, the internal laryngeal nerve and the superior laryngeal artery and vein pass through. Lastly, below the inferior pharyngeal constrictor muscle, the recurrent laryngeal nerve and the inferior laryngeal artery pass through.

Learn everything about the pharyngeal muscles with our study unit:

Superior pharyngeal constrictor muscle

This muscle originates from:

• the pterygoid hamulus
• the pterygomandibular raphe
• posterior end of mylohyoid line of mandible

It inserts into the pharyngeal tubercle and the pharyngeal raphe. Its function is to constrict the upper portion of the pharynx.

Middle pharyngeal constrictor muscle

The middle pharyngeal constrictor muscle proximally attaches to the stylohyoid ligament and the greater and lesser cornu of the hyoid bone. It distally attaches to the median pharyngeal raphe, as does the inferior pharyngeal constrictor muscle. It constricts the middle portion of the pharynx.

Inferior pharyngeal constrictor muscle

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.

Palatopharyngeus muscle

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. It elevates the pharynx in order to close off the nasopharynx during swallowing.

Salpingopharyngeus muscle

The salpingopharyngeus muscle originates from the cartilage of the auditory tube and ثlevates pharynx and opens auditory tube during swallowing.

Stylopharyngeus muscle

Lastly, the stylopharyngeus muscle comes from the medial aspect of the base of the styloid process and functions by elevating the pharynx and expanding it laterally.