middle pharyngeal constrictor thyroud cartilage

This opening is deepened above and behind by the tubal elevation produced by the underlying cartilage of the auditory tube. As you can see in Figure 28.1, the auditory tube opens into the lateral wall of the nasopharynx a short distance behind the nasal aperture. The nasopharynx lies behind the nasal cavity and above the soft palate. The pharynx extends from the base of the skull to the lower border of the cricoid cartilage where it is continuous with the oesophagus it is about 12 cm long. It is also used during articulation of speech to direct air through the mouth or nose. It is raised during swallowing to close off the nasopharynx to prevent food and drink entering the nasal cavity. As illustrated in Figure 28.1, it hangs down into the pharynx when relaxed. The soft palate is a flap of muscular tissue attached to the posterior edge of the hard palate.

The vocal folds stretch anteroposteriorly across the larynx they can be brought together to close the larynx and protect the lower respiratory tract or tensed to produce noise, the phonation component of speech. However, instead of simple cartilage rings or plates in the walls attached to each other by fibrous tissue, the elaborately shaped laryngeal cartilages articulate with each other through synovial joints and can be moved with precision by the laryngeal muscles. The walls of the larynx are reinforced by cartilage like the lower respiratory tract. The laryngeal opening is just behind and below the root of the tongue.

This anatomical arrangement requires precise control of swallowing to ensure that food and drink enter the oesophagus and not the larynx.Īs you can see in Figure 28.1, the larynx, the last part of the upper respiratory tract, is situated superficially in the midline of the neck in front of the pharynx and is only covered anteriorly by skin, fascia, and the infrahyoid muscles. Essentially, food and air cross each other’s paths in the laryngopharynx. The pharynx is thus part of both the gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts. Food and drink enter the oropharynx from the mouth, then travel through the laryngopharynx to the oesophagus and stomach. The laryngopharynx posterior to the laryngeal entrance between the epiglottis and level of the cricoid cartilage.Īir enters the nasopharynx and passes through the oropharynx to enter the larynx at the laryngopharynx.The oropharynx posterior to the oral cavity, extending from the soft palate to the tip of the epiglottis.The nasopharynx behind the posterior nasal apertures, extending down to the soft palate.Identify the three regions and their landmarks in Figure 28.1: The pharynx can thus be divided for descriptive purposes into three regions.

The pharynx is incomplete anteriorly where the nasal and oral cavities and laryngeal entrance open into it. The pharynx is a muscular tube beginning behind the posterior nasal apertures and extending down to the cricoid cartilage in the neck where it becomes continuous below with the oesophagus. The pharynx, soft palate, and larynx Chapter contentsĢ8.5 Lymphatic drainage of the pharynx, larynx, and deeper structures of the face

Middle pharyngeal constrictor thyroud cartilage