In this course, you are going to discover what the pharynx is all about, it's boundaries, contents, arterial, venous, nervous and lymphatic supply.

2.  The pharynx is a funnel shaped fibromuscular tube, extending
from the base of the skull to the esophagus. It is lined through
out with mucous membrane. The pharynx act as a common
channel for both air (respiration) and food (deglutition).
 Location:
 It is situated behind the nose, mouth and larynx with which it
communicates.
 Boundaries and Relations.
 Superior: Base of the skull including the posterior part of the
body of sphenoid and basilar part of the occipital bone in front
of the pharyngeal tubercle.
 Inferior: continous with the esophagus at the level of the the
lower border of the cricoid cartilage anteriorly and lower border
of C6 posteriorly.

3.  Posterior: prevertebral fascia of the cervical spine. The
pharynx is separated from prevertebral fascia only by
a layer of loose areolar tissue, which allows the
pharynx to slide freely on this fascia during
swallowing.
 Anterior: opens into nasal cavities, mouth and larynx.
 Lateral: Neurovascular bundle of neck and styloid
process with it’s attached muscles and ligaments.
 Subdivisions.
 The pharynx is divided into three parts. From above
downwards, we have the following structures;
 - Nasopharynx, lying behind the nasal cavity.
 - Oropharynx, lying behind the oral cavity.
 - Laryngopharynx, lying behind the larynx.

5.  1- Nasopharynx.
 The nasopharynx lies behind the nasal cavity and above the
soft palate.
 Boundaries.
 Roof: it is formed by the body of the sphenoid bone and basilar
part of the occipital bone.
 Floor: it is formed by;
 -soft palate
 - pharyngeal isthmus, an opening in the floor between the free
edges of soft palate and posterior pharyngeal wall.
 Anterior wall: it is formed by the posterior nasal apertures
separated by the posterior edge of nasal septum.
 Posterior wall: it is formed by the anterior arch of C1 vertebrae.
 Lateral wall: medial pterygoid plate of the sphenoid.


6.  Features.
 The features seen in the nasopharynx are as follows;
 a.) Nasopharyngeal (pharyngeal) tonsil: it is a collection of
lymphoid tissue beneath the mucous membrane at the junction
of the roof and the posterior wall of the nasopharynx. A
mucous diverticulum called nasopharyngeal bursa extends
upwards into the nasopharyngeal tonsil.
 b.) Orifice of the pharyngotympanic or auditory tube
(eustachian tube).
 The upper and posterior margins of this opening are bounded
by a tubal elevation, which is produced by a collection of
lymphoid tissue called tubal tonsil or torus tubarius. Two
mucous fold extend from this elevation;
 - salpingopharyngeal fold extends downward and fades on the
side wall of the pharynx. It contains the salpingopharyngeus
muscle.

7.  - salpingopalatine fold extends downward and forward to the
soft palate. It contains the levator palati muscle.
 c.) Pharyngeal recess.
 It is a deep depression behind the tubal elevation; it is called
the pharyngeal recess (fossa of rosenmuller).
 (see diagram behind).

9.  2- Oropharynx.
 It lies behind the oral cavity and extends from the lower
surface of the soft palate above to the upper surface of the
epiglottis below.
 Boundaries.
 Roof: it is formed by;
 - soft palate
 - pharyngeal isthmus through which it communicates with the
nasopharynx.
 Floor: it is formed by;
 - posterior 1/3 of the tongue.
 - interval between the tongue and epiglottis
 Anterior wall; it is formed by;
 - oropharyngeal isthmus through which it communicates with
the oral cavity.
 - pharyngeal part of the tongue

10.  Posterior wall: it is formed by the body of C2 and the upper
part of the body of C3.
 Lateral wall: on each side, it is surrounded by the
pterygomanidular raphe, mandible, tongue and hyoid bone.
 Features.
 The features seen in the oropharynx are;
 a.) lateral wall presents palatine tonsil, one on either side. It is
located in the triangular fossa (tonsillar fossa) bounded
anteriorly by the palatoglossal arch and posteriorly by the
palatopharyngeal arch.
 b.) anterior wall presents;
 - lingual tonsil, formed by numerous nodules of lymphoid
tissue underneath the pharyngeal part of the tongue.
 - upper free end of epiglottis, behind the tongue.
 - median and lateral glossoepiglottic folds, connecting the
anterior surface and edges of the epiglottis.

11.  - epiglottic valleculae, are shallow fossa between the median
and lateral glossoepiglottic folds.

13.  Oropharyngeal isthmus.
 It is an arched opening between the two palatoglossal folds
through which the oral cavity communicates with the
oropharynx. It has the following boundaries;
 Above, by the soft palate
 Below, by the dorsal surface of the posterior 1/3 of the tongue
 Laterally, by the palatoglossal arch/fold on either side
containing palatoglossus muscle.
 The oropharyngeal isthmus is closed during deglutition
to prevent regurgitation of food from the pharynx to the mouth.

16.  3- Laryngopharyx.
 The larygopharynx lies behind the pharyngeal inlet and the
posterior wall of the larynx. It lies behind the larynx and
extends from the upper border of the epiglottis to the lower
border of the cricoid cartilage anteriorly and lower border of C6
vertebrae posteriorly. It communicates anteriorly with the
laryngeal cavity through the laryngeal inlet and inferiorly with
the esophagus at the pharyngoesophageal junction.
 Boundaries.
 Anterior wall: it is formed by;
 - laryngeal inlet
 - posterior surface of the larynx
 Posterior wall: it is supported by the body of C3, C4, C5 and
C6 vertebrae.
 Lateral wall: it is supported by thyroid cartilage and thyrohoid
membrane.

17.  Features.
 The features seen in the laryngopharynx are as follows;
 Anterior wall presents the laryngeal inlet and below the inlet it
is supported by cricoid and arytenoid cartilage.
 Lateral wall presents the piriform fossa one on either side of
the laryngeal inlet.

19.  Piriform Fossa.
 It is a deep recess broad above and narrow below in the
anterior part of the lateral wall of the laryngopharynx, on each
side of the laryngeal inlet. These recesses are produced by the
bulging of the larynx into the laryngopharynx.
 Boundaries.
 Medial: Aryepiglottic fold and quadrangular membrane of
larynx.
 Lateral: mucous membrane covering the medial surface of the
lamina of thyroid cartilage and thyrohoid membrane. The
internal laryngeal nerve and superior laryngeal vessels pierce
the thyrohyoid membrane.
 Above: piriform fossa is separated from the epiglottic
valleculae by the lateral epiglottic fold.

21.  Pharyngeal wall.
 The walls of the pharynx consist of four layers, from within
outwards, we have the following;
 1- Mucous membrane/mucous coat
 2- Pharyngobasilar fascia/pharyngeal aponeurosis
 3- Muscular coat/pharyngeal muscles
 4- Buccopharyngeal fascia/loose areolar sheath
 Mucous membrane/ mucous coat: The mucous membrane
lining the pharynx contains a considerable amount of elastic
tissue and is continuous with the mucous lining of eustachian
tubes, nasal cavity, mouth, larynx and esophagus. It is lined by
non keratinized stratified squamous epithelium except in the
region of the nasopharynx, where it is lined by ciliated
columnar epithelium(respiratory epithelium).

22.  Pharyngobasilar fascia: it is a fibrous thickening of the
submucosa. It lines the muscular coat and is thicker at the
base of the skull but thin and indistinct inferiorly.
 Muscular coat: the muscular coat consist of the following two
striated muscles;
 - the outer layer consist of three pairs of circular muscles
called constrictors.
 - the inner layer consist of three pairs of longitudinal muscles.
 Buccopharyngeal fascia: it is a fascia which covers the outer
surface of the constrictor muscles. In the upper part, it is
prolonged forward to cover the buccinator muscles, hence the
name buccopharyngeal fascia. Above the upper border of the
superior constrictor, it blends with the pharyngobasilar fascia.

23.  The Waldeyer’s ring.
 It is an interrupted circle of tonsils at the upper end of the
respiratory and alimentary tract.
 The Waldeyer’s ring is formed by:
1. Pharyngeal tonsil (nasopharyngeal tonsil), posterosuperiorly.
2. Lingual tonsil, anteriorly.
3. Tubal and palatine tonsils, laterally.
It is thought that, Waldeyer’s ring prevents the invasion of
microorganisms from entering the air and food passages
and this helps in the defense mechanism of the respiratory and
alimentary systems.

26.  A- Constrictor Muscles.
 The three constrictor muscles of the pharynx (superior, middle
and inferior) are arranged like a flowerpot without base, placed
one above the other and open in front for communication with
the nasal, oral and laryngeal cavities. Thus the inferior
constrictor overlaps the middle, which also in turn overlaps the
superior constrictor.
 1- Superior constrictor:
 it is quadrilateral in shaped.
 Origin: the pterygoid hamulus, pterygomandibular raphe, side
of the posterior part of the tongue.
 Insertion: pharyngeal tubercle and median fibrous raphe.
 Nerve supply: pharyngeal branch of the vagus nerve carrying
fibres of cranial root of the accessory nerve.
 Action: helps in deglutition.

27.  2- Middle constrictor:
 It is fan shaped.
 Origin: lower part of the stylohyoid ligament, lesser cornu of
hyoid, upper border of the greater cornu of hyoid.
 Insertion: median fibrous raphe
 Nerve supply: Pharyngeal branch of the vagus nerve carrying
fibres of cranial root of the accessory nerve.
 Action: helps in deglutition.


28.  3- Inferior constrictor:
 It is divided into two; thyropharyngeus and cricopharyngeus.
 Thyropharyngeus
 Origin: lamina of the thyroid cartilage and tendinous band
between the thyroid tubercle and cricoid cartilage.
 Insertion: median fibrous raphe.
 Nerve supply: pharyngeal plexus and external laryngeal nerve.
 Cricopharyngeus
 Origin: cricoid cartilage
 Insertion: median fibrous raphe
 Nerve supply: recurrent laryngeal nerve
 Action: both help in deglutition.

30.  Gaps in the pharyngeal wall.
 The four gaps exist on either side of the pharyngeal wall in
relation with the constrictor muscles. These gaps include;

32.  B- Longitudinal muscles.
 These muscles run longitudinally from above downwards to
form the longitudinal muscle coat.
 1- Stylopharyngeus.
 Origin: medial surface of the base of styloid process.
 Insertion: lamina of the thyroid cartilage.
 Nerve supply: Glossopharyngeal (IX) nerve
 2- Palatopharyngeus.
 Origin: by two fasciculi from the upper surface of the palatine
aponeurosis.
 Insertion: lamina of the thyroid cartilage.
 Nerve supply: cranial root of the accessory nerve through the
pharyngeal plexus.

33.  3- Salpingopharyngeus.
 Origin: lower part of the cartilage of the auditory tube.
 Insertion: lamina of the thyroid cartilage.
 Nerve supply: cranial root of the accessory nerve through the
pharyngeal plexus.
 Actions of the longitudinal Muscles.
 They elevate the larynx and shorten the pharynx during
swallowing. At the same time, palatopharyngeal sphincters
formed by some fibres of the palatopharyngeus muscle closes
the nasopharyngeal isthmus.

35.  Nerve supply of the pharynx.
 Motor supply: all pharyngeal muscles are supplied by the
cranial root of the accessory nerve (through the pharyngeal
branch of the vagus and the pharyngeal plexus), except the
stylopharyngeus muscle which is supplied by the
glossopharyngeal nerve (IX) nerve.
 Sensory supply:
 - Nasopharynx, by the pharyngeal branch of the
pterygopalatine ganglion carrying fibres from the maxillary
division of the trigeminal nerve.
 - Oropharynx, by glossopharyngeal nerve.
 - Laryngopharynx, by internal laryngeal nerve.

37.  Pharyngeal plexus of the nerves.
 It lies on the posterolateral aspect of the pharynx over the
middle constrictor below the buccopharyngeal fascia. It is
formed by:
- Pharyngeal branch of the vagus, carrying fibres from cranial
root of the accessory nerve.
 - Pharyngeal branch of the glossopharyngeal nerve
 - Pharyngeal ganglion of the superior cervical sympathetic
ganglion.

38.  Arterial supply of the pharynx.
 The branches of the following arteries supply the pharynx;
 - Ascending pharyngeal artery (from external carotid artery).
 - Ascending palatine and tonsillar artery (from facial artery).
 - Greater palatine and pharyngeal artery (from maxillary
artery).
 - Lingual artery (from external carotid artery).
 - Superior thyroid artery (from the external carotid artery).
 - Inferior thyroid artery (from thyrocervical trunk).

40.  Venous drainage of the pharynx.
 The venous blood from pharynx is largely drained into
pharyngeal venous plexus, which drains into the internal
jugular vein.
 Lymphatic drainage of the pharynx.
 The lymph from pharynx is drained into the upper and
lower deep cervical lymph nodes directly and through the
retropharyngeal lymph nodes.

42.  Deglutition (swallowing).
 Deglutition is a process by which food is moved from the
mouth to the stomach. It consist of the following three
successive stages/phases:
 - First stage (in the mouth): voluntary
 - Second stage (in the pharynx): involuntary
 - Third stage (in the esophagus): involuntary
 1- First stage.
 In this stage, the mouth is closed, the anterior part of the
mouth is raised against the hard palate to push the masticated
food progressively in the posterior part of the oral cavity. The
soft palate closes down onto the back of the tongue to help
form the bolus of food. Now the hyoid bone moves up to push
food from the oral cavity to the oropharynx through the
oropharyngeal isthmus.

45.  2- Second stage.
 This stage is very rapid. The nasopharyngeal isthmus is closed
by elevation of the soft palate and contraction of passavant’s
ridge to prevent entry of food into the nasopharynx. The
laryngeal inlet is closed by aryepiglottic folds to prevent entry
of food into the larynx. Now the pharynx and larynx are
elevated above the hyoid bone by the longitudinal muscles of
the pharynx and the bolus of food is pushed down over the
posterior surface of the epiglottis by gravity and contraction of
superior and middle constrictors. Thus food passes from the
oropharynx to the laryngopharynx. This is followed by rapid
downward displacement of the larynx and pharynx (by
infrahyoid muscles), which reopens the laryngeal orifice.

48.  3- Third stage.
 In this stage, propulsive action of the thyropharyngeus followed
by relaxation of the cricopharyngeus pushes food, which
passes from laryngopharynx to the esophagus. From here it
enters into the stomach by peristaltic movements in the
esophageal wall.

50.  Pharyngeal spaces.
 These are potential spaces in respect to the pharynx;
 1- Retropharyngeal space: it is situated behind the pharynx
and extends from the base of the skull above to the bifurcation
of trachea below.
 2- Parapharyngeal space: it is situated on the side of the
pharynx. It contains carotid vessels, internal jugular vein, last
four cranial nerves and cervical sympathetic chain.

51.  Palatine tonsil.
 There are two palatine tonsils (commonly called tonsils). Each
tonsil is an almond-shaped mass of lymphoid tissue situated in
the triangular fossa (tonsillar fossa) of the lateral wall of the
oropharynx between the anterior and posterior pillars of
fauces. The anterior pillar is formed by the palatoglossal arch
and the posterior pillar is formed by the palatopharyngeal arch.
 Boundaries of the tonsillar fossa/sinus.
 Anterior : palatoglossal arch containing palatoglossus muscle.
 Posterior: palatopharyngeal arch containing palatopharyngeal
muscle.
 Apex : soft palate
 Base :dorsal surface of the posterior 1/3 of the tongue
 Lateral wall (tonsillar bed): superior constrictor muscle

52.  Tonsillar bed.
 It is formed from within outwards by;
 - pharyngobasilar fascia
 - superior constrictor muscle
 - buccopharyngeal fascia
 External features.
 The tonsil presents the following features;
 1- Medial surface: it is free and bulges into the oropharynx. It is
lined with non keratinized stratified squamous epithelium,
which dips into the substance of tonsil forming crypts. The
number of crypts vary from 12 to 15 and their openings can be
seen on the medial surface. One of the crypts situated near the
upper part of the tonsil is very large and deep. It is called
crypta magna or intratonsillar cleft and represents the remnant
of the second pharyngeal pouch. The crypts may be filled with
cheesy material consisting of epithelial cells

54.  Lateral surface: it is covered by a well defined fibrous tissue,
which forms the tonsillar hemicapsule. Between the bed of
tonsil and the tonsillar hemicapsule is a loose areolar tissue
(peritonsillar space), it is site of collection of pus in peritonsillar
abcess. The superior constrictor muscle seperates this surface
from the following structures:
 - facial artery and two of it’s branches, the ascending palatine
and tonsillar.
 - styloglossus muscle and glossopharyngeal nerve.
 - styloid process
 - angle of mandible and medial pterygoid muscle.
 - submandibular salivary gland.

56.  Anterior border: it passes underneath the palatoglossal arch.
 Posterior border: it passes underneath the palapharyngeal
arch.
 Upper pole: it extends up to the soft palate. It’s medial surface
is covered by a semilunar fold extending between the anterior
and posterior pillars enclosing a potential space called
supratonsillar fossa.
 Lower pole: it is attached to the tongue by a brand of fibrous
tissue called suspensory ligament of the tonsil. The palatine
tonsil is seperated from the tongue by the tonsilolingual sulcus.

57.  Arterial supply of the palatine tonsil.
 The following arteries supply the tonsil;
 - tonsillar branch of facial artery (it is the principal artery and
enters the lower pole by piercing the superior constrictor
muscle).
 - dorsalis linguae artery of the lingual artery.
 - ascending palatine , a branch of facial artery.
 - ascending pharyngeal, a branch of external carotid artery.
 - greater palatine (ascending palatine), a branch of the
maxillary artery.

59.  Venous drainage of the tonsil.
 The veins from the tonsil drain into the paratonsillar vein. The
paratonsillar vein descends from the soft palate across the
lateral aspect of the tonsillar capsule and pierces the superior
constrictor to drain into the pharyngeal venous plexus.
 Lymphatic drainage of the tonsil.
 The lymphatics of the tonsil drain into the upper deep cervical
lymph node, particularly the jugulodigastric lymph node. It is
ussually called the tonsilar lymph node.
 Nerve supply of the tonsil.
 Palatine tonsil is supplied by the glossopharyngeal nerve and
the lesser palatine branches of the sphenopalatine ganglion.

60.  Pharyngotympanic tube (auditory or eustachian
tube).
 It is a mucous lined osseocartilaginous channel, which
connects the nasopharynx with the tympanic cavity. It
maintains the equilibrium of air pressure on either side of the
tympanic membrane for it’s proper vibration.
 The pharyngotympanic tube is divided into 2 parts;
 1- Osseous or bony part: it forms 1/3 of the total lenght of the
tube. It lies between the tympanic and petrous part of the
temporal bone and opens into the middle ear cavity.
 2- Cartilagenous part: it forms 2/3 of the tube.
 Ends of the tube.
 The tympanic end of the tube is small and bony. It is situated in
the anterior wall of the middle ear. The pharyngeal end is large
and is situated at the lateral wall of the pharynx. The
pharyngeal orifice is the widest part of the tube.

62.  Lining of the tube.
 The tube is lined with pseudostratified ciliated columnar
epithelium with goblet cells. The cilia beat in direction of the
nasopharynx thus help to drain secretions and fluids from the
middle ear to the nasopharynx.
 Functions.
 The functions of the auditory tube are as follows;
 1- maintains the equilibrium of air pressure on either side of
the tympanic membrane.
 2- protection of middle by preventing transmission of high
sound pressure from nasopharynx to the middle ear. As the
tube remains closed.
 3- Clearance of middle ear secretions by active opening
 and closing of the tube. The cilia of mucous lining of the
 tube beat in the direction of nasopharynx and drain the
 secretion of the middle ear into the nasopharynx.

65.  The term palate refers to the roof of the mouth, it also forms
the floor of the nasal cavity. It forms the partition between the
nasal and oral cavity.
 The palate consist of two parts;
 1- Hard palate, which forms the anterior 4/5 of the palate
 2- Soft palate, which forms the posterior 1/5 of the palate
1- Hard palate.
 The hard palate is the partition between the nasal and oral
cavity. It’s anterior 2/3 is formed by the palatine process of the
maxillary bone and the posterior 1/3 is formed by the horizontal
plate of the palatine bone. The superior and inferior surfaces of
the hard palate form the floor of the nasal cavity and the roof of
the oral cavity, respectively.

66.  Anteromedially, the hard palate becomes continous with the
alveolar arch and gums.
 Posteriorly, the hard palate is free and provides attachment to
the soft palate.
 The inferior surface of the hard palate presents the following
features;
 1- Incisive fossa: a small pit anteriorly in the midline behind the
incisor teeth, into which open the incisive canals. Each incisive
canal/foramen (right and left) pierces the corresponding side
and ascend into the corresponding nasal cavity. The incisive
foramen transmits terminal parts of the nasopalatine nerve and
greater palatine vessels.
 2- Greater palatine foramen: one on each side, lies in the
posterolateral corner of the hard palate medial to the last molar
teeth. It transmits the greater palatine nerve and vessels.

67.  3- Lesser palatine nerve: on each side are in the pyramidal
process of palatine bone and are located just behind the
greater palatine foramen. They provide passage to lesser
palatine nerve and vessels.
 4- Posterior nasal spine: is a conical projection in the median
plane on the sharp free posterior border of the hard palate.
 5- Palatine crest, is a curved ridge near the posterior border of
the hard palate.
 6- Masticatory mucosa: it is the mucous membrane lining the
hard palate. The hard palate is lined by keratinized stratified
squamous epithelium.

69.  Arterial supply of the hard palate.
 This is by greater palatine arteries from the third part of the
maxillary artery. Each artery emerges from greater palatine
foramen and passes forwards around the palate (lateral to the
nerve) to enter the incisive canal and pass up into the nose.

71.  Venous drainage.
 The veins of the hard palate drain into pterygoid venous plexus
(mainly) and pharyngeal venous plexus.
 Nerve supply.
 The hard palate is supplied by greater palatine and
nasopalatine nerves derived from pterygopalatine ganglion.
 Lymphatic drainage.
 The lymphatics from palate drain mostly into the upper deep
cervical lymph nodes and few into retropharyngeal lymph
nodes.

72. 2- Soft palate.
 The soft palate is a mobile muscular flap, which hangs down
from the posterior border of the hard palate into the pharyngeal
cavity. It seperates the nasal cavity from the oral cavity.
 External features.
 The soft palate presents the following external features:
 1. Anterior (oral) surface is concave and marked by a median
raphe.
 2. Posterior surface is convex and continuous with the floor of
the nasal cavity.
 3. Superior border is attached to the posterior border of the
hard palate.
 4. Inferior border is free and forms the anterior boundary of the
pharyngeal isthmus. A conical, small, tongue-like projection
hanging down from its middle is called uvula.

73.  On each side from the base of uvula, two curved folds of
mucous membrane extend laterally and downwards:
 (a) The anterior fold merges inferiorly with the side of the
tongue (at the junction of oral and pharyngeal parts) and is
known as palatoglossal fold. The palatoglossal fold contains
the palatoglossus muscle and forms the lateral boundary of the
oropharyngeal isthmus.
 (b) The posterior fold merges inferiorly with the lateral wall of
the pharynx and is known as palatopharyngeal fold. The
palatopharyngeal fold contains palatopharyngeus muscle and
forms the posterior boundary of the tonsillar fossa.

74.  Structure.
 The soft palate is made up of a fold of mucous membrane
enclosing five pairs of muscles. The nasal surface of the soft
palate is covered by pseudostratified ciliated columnar
epithelium except posteriorly (the part that abuts on the
Passavant’s ridge of posterior pharyngeal wall), which is lined
by non-keratinized stratified squamous epithelium. The oral
surface of the soft palate is thicker and lined by non-
keratinized stratified squamous epithelium. In the submucosa
of both the surfaces are mucous glands, which are in plenty
around the uvula and on the oral aspect of the soft palate. The
mucosa on the oral surface of the soft palate also contains
some taste buds (especially in children) and lymphoid follicles.

75.  Muscles.
 The soft palate consists of the five pairs of muscles;
 1. Tensor palati (tensor veli palatini).
 2. Levator palati (levator veli palatini).
 3. Palatoglossus.
 4. Palatopharyngeus.
 5. Musculus uvulae.
 All the muscles of soft palate are extrinsic except musculus
uvulae, which are intrinsic.
 See table below.

78.  Functions.
 1. Separates the oropharynx from nasopharynx during
swallowing so that food does not enter the nose.
 2. Isolates the oral cavity from oropharynx during chewing so
that breathing is not affected.
 3. Helps to modify the quality of voice, by varying the degree of
closure of the pharyngeal isthmus.
 4. Protects the damage of nasal mucosa during sneezing, by
appropriately dividing and directing the blast of air through
both nasal and oral cavities.
 5. Prevents the entry of sputum into nose during coughing by
directing it into the oral cavity.

79.  Arterial Supply.
 The soft palate is supplied by the following arteries:
 1. Lesser palatine branches of the maxillary artery.
 2. Ascending palatine branch of the facial artery.
 3. Palatine branches of the ascending pharyngeal artery.
 Venous Drainage.
 The venous blood from palate is drained into pharyngeal
venous plexus and pterygoid venous plexus.
 Lymphatic Drainage.
 The lymphatics from soft palate drain into retropharyngeal and
upper deep cervical lymph nodes.

80.  Nerve Supply.
 Motor supply: All the muscles of soft palate are supplied by the
cranial root of accessory nerve via pharyngeal plexus except
tensor palati, which is supplied by the nerve to medial
pterygoid, a branch of the mandibular nerve.
 Sensory supply: General sensations from palate are carried
by:
 - Lesser palatine nerves to the maxillary division of
 trigeminal nerve via pterygopalatine ganglion.
 - Glossopharyngeal nerve.