what is the fiber course of the palatopharyngeus

Passing laterally and downward behind the palatine tonsil, the palatopharyngeus joins the stylopharyngeus and is inserted with that muscle into the posterior border of the thyroid cartilage, some of its fibers being lost on the side of the pharynx and others passing across the middle line posteriorly to decussate with the muscle of the opposite side.

Full Answer

What is the palatopharyngeus?

Palatopharyngeus is a longitudinal muscle that extends from the palate to the pharynx. Due to its length this muscle belongs to both the soft palate and pharyngeal muscle groups; Longitudinal muscles of the pharynx - together with salpingopharyngeus and stylopharyngeus.

What is the palatopharyngeal fasciculus?

It is a long, fleshy fasciculus, narrower in the middle than at either end, forming, with the mucous membrane covering its surface, the palatopharyngeal arch . It is separated from the palatoglossus muscle by an angular interval, in which the palatine tonsil is lodged.

How does the palatopharyngeus muscle assist deglutition?

Palatopharyngeus muscle assists deglutition as it shortens the pharynx by elevating it superiorly, anteriorly and medially. This action closes the laryngeal airway and prevents aspiration of food.

What is the palatopharyngeal arch?

It is also referred to as one of the five paired muscles of the soft palate . The paired muscles create ridges of mucous membrane in the lateral pharyngeal wall called the palatopharyngeal arches.

What is the origin of the palatopharyngeus muscle?

Contraction of the palatinus muscle shortens the soft palate. The palatopharyngeus muscle originates from the palatine aponeurosis and the lateral border of the palatinus muscle. It travels caudally along the lateral wall of the nasopharynx to the pharyngeal raphe, forming part of the superior constrictor muscle group.

What is the action of palatopharyngeus muscle?

The palatopharyngeus (palatopharyngeal or pharyngopalatinus) muscle is a small muscle in the roof of the mouth....Palatopharyngeus muscleInsertionUpper border of thyroid cartilage (blends with constrictor fibers)ArteryFacial arteryNervePharyngeal branch of vagus nerveActionsPulls pharynx and larynx upward9 more rows

What is palatopharyngeus innervated by?

Palatopharyngeus muscle is innervated by branches of pharyngeal plexus, which in turn receives input from the vagus nerve (CN X).

What is the stylopharyngeus?

The stylopharyngeus muscle is a long, slender and tapered longitudinal pharyngeal muscle that runs between the styloid process of the temporal bone and the pharynx and functions during the pharyngeal phase of swallowing.

Where is palatopharyngeus muscle?

The palatopharyngeus is a muscle of both the soft palate and the pharynx. Anteriorly, the muscle fibers are attached to the hard palate, and posterior fibers are attached to the palatine aponeurosis. The anterior portion of the muscle is separated by the levator veli palatini (LVP).

What cranial nerve Innervates the palatopharyngeus?

accessory nerve (CN XI)Two major anatomical textbooks mention that both palatopharyngeus muscle (PP) and the levator veli palatini muscle (LVP) are innervated by the cranial part of the accessory nerve (CN XI) via the pharyngeal plexus and the tensor veli palatini muscle (TVP) is innervated by the mandibular nerve [7, 8].

What are the palatoglossal and palatopharyngeal arches?

The palatoglossal and palatopharyngeal arches are the two mucosal folds that extend inferiorly from each lateral border of the soft palate. The palatoglossal arch is located anteriorly. It contains the palatoglossus muscle and connects the soft palate with the root of the tongue.

What nerve Innervates the palatoglossus muscle?

vagus nerveThis is the reason that all the other tongue muscles receive innervation from the twelfth cranial nerve (hypoglossal nerve) except the palatoglossus muscle, which is innervated by the tenth cranial nerve (vagus nerve).

What is Passavants Ridge?

Passavant's ridge is a mucous elevation situated behind the floor of the naso-pharynx.

Where is the palatopharyngeus?

Anatomical terms of muscle. The palatopharyngeus ( palatopharyngeal or pharyngopalatinus) muscle is a small muscle in the roof of the mouth . It is a long, fleshy fasciculus, narrower in the middle than at either end, forming, with the mucous membrane covering its surface, the palatopharyngeal arch .

How is the posterior fasciculus separated from the palatoglossus muscle?

The posterior fasciculus lies in contact with the mucous membrane, and joins with that of the opposite muscle in ...

Which muscles pull the pharynx upwards?

The palatine velum is slightly raised by the levator veli palatini and made tense by the tensor veli palatini; the palatopharyngeus muscles, by their contraction, pull the pharynx upward over the bolus of food and nearly come together, the uvula filling up the slight interval between them.

Which muscle is in contact with the mucous membrane?

The posterior fasciculus lies in contact with the mucous membrane, and joins with that of the opposite muscle in the middle line. The anterior fasciculus, the thicker, lies in the soft palate between the levator and tensor veli palatini muscles, and joins in the middle line the corresponding part of the opposite muscle.

What is the muscle in the roof of the mouth called?

Palatopharyngeus muscle. The palatopharynge us ( palatopharyngeal or pharyngopalatinus) muscle is a small muscle in the roof of the mouth . It is a long, fleshy fasciculus, narrower in the middle than at either end, forming, with the mucous membrane covering its surface, the palatopharyngeal arch .

Where does the palatopharyngeus muscle originate?

Origin. The palatopharyngeus muscle is made up of two fasciculi attached to the superior surface of the palatine aponeurosis. The anterior fasciculus has fibers which additionally originate from the posterior border of the hard palate. The posterior fasciculus joins the posterior band of the contralateral palatopharyngeus muscle in the midline.

What is the origin of the palatine aponeurosis?

origin: palatine aponeurosis, hard palate. insertion: thyroid cartilage. innervation: pharyngeal branch of the vagus nerve (CN X) contributing to the pharyngeal plexus. action: elevates the larynx and pharynx during swallowing.

Where does innervation occur?

This occurs via the pharyngeal plexus with branches from the vagus nerve (CN X) and glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX).

What is the name of the muscle that is located in the head and neck?

Palatopharyngeus muscle. The palatopharyngeus muscle is a muscle of the head and neck, and one of the inner longitudinal muscles of the pharynx. It is also referred to as one of the five paired muscles of the soft palate .

What is the soft palate of a horse?

The soft palate completely divides the pharynx into nasal and oral compartments in the horse. Because the horse is an obligate nasal breather , it is critically important that the soft palate remains ventral to the epiglottis, except during swallowing, to allow unimpeded nasal breathing. The soft palate extends caudally from the hard palate to the base of the larynx and consists of the oral mucous membrane, which contains ductile openings of the palatine glands, the palatine glands, the palatine aponeurosis, palatinus and palatopharyngeus muscles, and the nasopharyngeal mucous membrane.51 The caudal free margin of the soft palate continues dorsally, on either side of the larynx, forming the lateral pillars of the soft palate. These pillars unite dorsally, forming the posterior pillar of the soft palate or the palatopharyngeal arch.

What is the intrinsic musculature of the nasopharynx?

The floor of the nasopharynx is formed by the soft palate extending caudad from the hard palate to the base of the larynx. The soft palate consists of oral mucous membrane that contains the palatine glands and their ductile openings, palatine aponeurosis, palatinus and palatopharyngeus muscles, and nasopharyngeal mucous membrane.2 The palatine aponeurosis is formed by expansion of the tendon of the tensor veli palatini muscle. 2,10 This aponeurosis attaches to the caudal margin of the hard palate. It is thick cranially and very thin caudally, where the soft palate is more muscular. The caudal free margin of the soft palate continues dorsad on either side of the larynx, forming the lateral pillars of the soft palate and the floor of the lateral food channels. Muscle fibers of the palatinus muscle course beneath the nasopharyngeal mucosa and extend along the pillars of the soft palate. These pillars unite dorsally, forming the palatopharyngeal arch. 2

Where does the palatopharyngeus muscle originate?

The palatopharyngeus muscle originates from the palatine aponeurosis and the lateral border of the palatinus muscle. 51 It travels caudally along the lateral wall of the nasopharynx to the pharyngeal raphe, forming part of the superior constrictor muscle group.

What muscles are involved in the soft palate?

There are five muscles of the soft palate. The palatopharyngeus muscle forms the palatopharyngeal arch. It attaches superiorly to the hard palate and palatine aponeurosis and inferiorly to the lateral wall of the pharynx. Its function is to tense the soft palate and pull the pharyngeal walls superiorly, anteriorly, and medially during swallowing, effectively closing off the nasopharynx from the oropharynx. The palatoglossus muscle functions to close off the oral cavity from the oropharynx by elevating the posterior tongue and drawing the soft palate inferiorly. It attaches superiorly to the palatine aponeurosis and inferiorly to the side of the tongue. The levator veli palatini muscle attaches superiorly to the cartilage of the auditory canal and the petrous part of the temporal bone. It extends anteriorly and inferiorly to attach to the palatine aponeurosis. It functions to elevate the palate, drawing it superiorly and posteriorly during swallowing and yawning. It works in conjunction with the tensor veli palatini. The tensor veli palatini muscle attaches superiorly to the medial pterygoid plate, spine of the sphenoid, and cartilage of the auditory tube and extends to the palatine aponeurosis. During swallowing, it tenses the soft palate by using the hamulus as a pulley. It also pulls the auditory canal open to equalize air pressure between the middle ear and pharynx. The musculus uvulae is a delicate slip of muscle that attaches to the posterior nasal spine and palatine aponeurosis and inserts into the mucosa of the uvula. It shortens the uvula and pulls it superiorly, assisting in the closing of the nasopharynx during swallowing.

What is the posterior pharyngeal wall?

The posterior pharyngeal wall starts at the inferior aspect of the nasopharynx in the region of the soft palate and extends to the level of the epiglottis inferiorly. It comprises the posterolateral surfaces of the oropharynx. The pharyngeal constrictor muscles constitute the framework of the pharyngeal wall. The wall is related to the second and third cervical vertebrae and contains the mucosa, submucosa, pharyngobasilar fascia, underlying superior constrictor muscle, and buccopharyngeal fascia. The lateral aspect of the pharyngeal wall is continuous with the pharyngoepiglottic fold and continues into the lateral aspect of the pyriform sinus. Nerve supply is from cranial nerves IX and X. The pharyngeal wall is rich in lymphatics, the primary drainage being directed to the retropharyngeal nodes and levels II and III.

What is the lateral wall of the oropharynx?

Deep to the mucosa, the lateral wall consists of the superior constrictor, the upper fibers of the middle constrictor, and the palatoglossus, palatopharyngeus, salpingopharyngeus, and stylopharyngeus muscles. The posterior wall of the oropharynx is related to the second and third cervical vertebrae and consists of mucosa, constrictor muscle, ...

Which muscle is the main part of the lateral pharyngeal wall?

The principle of this technique is to isolate the palatopharyngeus muscle (the main part of the lateral pharyngeal wall bulk) and rotate this muscle supero-anterolaterally, in order to create the lateral wall tension and remove the bulk of the lateral pharyngeal walls.

Where is the oropharynx located?

The oropharynx is the region posterior to the oral cavity that includes the posterior one third of the tongue (tongue base), the palatine tonsils, the soft palate, and the oropharyngeal mucosa and constrictor muscles. The posterior pharyngeal wall is at the level of the second and third cervical vertebrae. Laterally, there are two mucosa-lined faucial arches; the anterior arch is formed by the mucosa of the palatoglossus muscle, and the posterior arch is formed by the palatopharyngeus muscle. The palatine tonsils are located between the two faucial arches, and the lingual tonsils reside at the base of the tongue. Both sets of tonsils vary in size and can encroach on the airway.

Which muscle forms the lateral and posterior margins of the isthmus?

The lateral and posterior margins of the isthmus are formed by fibers of the palatopharyngeus muscle, which encircle the pharynx inside the superior constrictor and form Passavant ridge, against which the soft palate impinges when elevated by the levator palati muscle. Other fibers of the palatopharyngeus muscle form the posterior tonsillar pillar.

What is the role of the stylopharyngeus in swallowing?

Stylopharyngeus is involved in elevating the pharynx and larynx. These movements are important during swallowing and speaking. The swallowing reflex is triggered once the food bolus touches the pharyngeal wall. Firstly, the pharyngeal constrictor muscles propel the bolus through the pharynx towards the esophagus.

Which muscle is superior to the stylopharyngeus?

Then, stylopharyngeus travels anterolaterally in relation to palatopharyngeus muscle until the level of the digastric muscle. Superior to the digastric, stylopharyngeus separates the external carotid artery from the internal carotid artery.

What is the muscle that forms the lateral walls of the pharynx?

Stylopharyngeus muscle (musculus stylopharyngeus) Stylopharyngeus is a paired muscle that participates in forming the lateral walls of the pharynx. It is one of three longitudinal pharyngeal muscles, the remaining ones being palatopharyngeus and salpingopharyngeus muscles.

Which muscle is accompanied by the glossopharyngeal nerve?

As the stylopharyngeus muscle passes between the superior pharyngeal constrictor (laterally) and middle pharyngeal constrictor (medially) muscles, it is accompanied by the glossopharyngeal nerve ( cranial nerve IX) and stylohyoid ligament.

Which muscle is covered superficially by the external, circular pharyngeal constrictor muscles?

Stylopharyngeus is covered superficially by the external, circular pharyngeal constrictor muscles (superior, middle and inferior). These contain an internal fascial lining ( pharyngobasilar fascia) which is closely related to stylopharyngeus.

Which muscle is responsible for swallowing and deglutition?

The stylopharyngeus muscle extends between the styloid process and several structures of the pharynx and larynx. By elevating the pharynx and larynx, the muscle plays an important role in swallowing (deglutition) and speaking.

Which muscles are used to elevate the pharynx?

Then the internal pharyngeal longitudinal muscles, including stylopharyngeus, elevate the pharynx and in order to receive the food bolus. More details about the stylopharyngeus muscle and other pharyngeal muscles are included below: Muscles of the pharynx Explore study unit. Pharyngeal mucosa Explore study unit.