The document outlines the anatomy, structure, and functions of the pharynx, which serves as a muscular tube extending from the base of the skull to the esophagus, dividing into the nasopharynx, oropharynx, and laryngopharynx. It describes various components including muscles, blood supply, nerve supply, and lymphatic drainage, as well as applied anatomy relating to conditions such as tonsillitis and Zenker's diverticulum. The document emphasizes the pharynx's roles in respiration, digestion, and as a conduit for air and food.

1. Lecture By
Dr.N.Mugunthan.MBBS.,MS.,DNB.,MNAMS.,PhD
Associate Professor
MGMC&RI

2.  Boundaries of pharynx
 Subdivision of pharynx & it’s features
 Structure of pharyngeal wall
 Muscles of pharynx
 Blood supply
 Nerve supply
 Lymphatic drainage
 Applied anatomy
©Dr.N.Mugunthan

3.  Pharynx is a wide muscular tube
 Situated behind the nose, the
mouth and the larynx
 Extending from base of skull to
C6
 Continuous with oesophagus
 Upper part transmits only air
 Lower part transmits only food
 Middle part transmit both air
and food
©Dr.N.Mugunthan

4.  Length: 13cms
 Width: Max 3.5cm & Min
1.5cm
©Dr.N.Mugunthan

5. Superiorly:
 Base of the skull (body of sphenoid
and basiocciput)
Interiorly:
 Continuous with the
oesophagus(c6 –cricoid cartilage)
Posteriorly:
 Prevertebral fascia and C1-C6
Anteriorly: (deficient)
 It communicates with nasal cavity
(nasopharynx), oral cavity
(oropharynx) and the larynx
(laryngopharynx).
©Dr.N.Mugunthan

6. On each side:
 Medial pterygoid plate,
pterygomandibular raphe
mandible, tongue, hyoid
bone,thyroid and cricoid
cartilages.
 It communicates with middle
ear through auditory tube.
©Dr.N.Mugunthan

7.  The cavity of the pharynx is
divided into:
1. The nasalpart- nasopharynx.
2. The oral part –oropharynx.
3. The laryngeal part-
laryngopharynx.
©Dr.N.Mugunthan

8.  Situated behind the nose
Extent:
 From base of skull to lower
border of the soft palate
(C1)
 Respiratory in function
( lined by ciliated columnar
epithelium)
 Mucous membrane is
supplied by the pharyngeal
branch of pterygopalatine
ganglion
©Dr.N.Mugunthan

9. • Anteriorly-communicates
with nasal cavities through
posterior nasal apertures.
 Roof and posterior wall –
form by body of sphenoid,
basiocciput, and anterior arch
of atlas.
 Nasopharyngeal tonsil-
lymphoid tissue collection
©Dr.N.Mugunthan

10.  Pharyngeal bursa (pouch
of luschka)- mucous
diverticulum extends into
nasopharyngeal tonsil
 Enlarged pharyngeal tonsil is
named adenoids – which
may obstruct the air in
children
 Pharyngeal hypophysis –
glandular tissue similar to
adenohypophysis(Rathke’s
pouch remnant)
©Dr.N.Mugunthan

11.  Inferiorly:
 Communicates with
oropharynx at pharyngeal
isthmus or nasopharyngeal
isthmus.
Boundaries of nasopharyngeal
isthmus.
 Ant: soft palate
 Lat: palatopharyngeal arches
 Post: post.pharyngeal wall in
which passavant's ridge
(palatopharyngeal muscle)
appears during deglutition and
speech ©Dr.N.Mugunthan

12.  Lateral wall:
 Pharyngeal opening of the
auditory tube,
 Tubal elevation (torus
tubarius) bounds the tubal
opening
 Tubal tonsil – lymphatic
aggregation around tubal
opening
 Salpingopharyngeal fold
 fold is raised by salpingo-
pharyngeus muscle
 Pharyngeal recess or lateral
recess or fossa of Rosenmuller.
(Behind the tubal elevation)
©Dr.N.Mugunthan

13.  Middle part of the
pharynx
Situation:
 Behind the oral cavity.
Extent:
 From the level of soft
palate to epiglottis (C1-
C3)
©Dr.N.Mugunthan

14. Boundaries:
 Post: body of axis & C3
 Ant: communicates with
oral cavity thro’
oropharyngeal isthmus
 Sup: continuous with
nasopharynx at
nasopharyngeal isthmus
 Inf: continuous with
laryngopharynx
 Lat: palatine tonsil
©Dr.N.Mugunthan

15. Oropharyngeal isthmus:
Boundaries:
 Above: soft palate
 Below: dorsal surface of
post 1/3 of tongue
 Each side: palatoglossal
arch
Closed during deglutition
to prevent regurgitation of
food from the pharynx to
mouth. ©Dr.N.Mugunthan

16. Palatine tonsil:
Situation:
 Lateral wall of oropharynx
 Tonsillar fossa
Boundaries of tosillar fossa:
Ant: palato-glossal fold
Post: palato-pharyngeal fold
Lateral: (tonsillar bed)
 Pharyngobasilar
fascia,palatoglossus &
sup.constrictor muscle
©Dr.N.Mugunthan

17. Collections of lymphatic
tissue at the entrance into
alimentary tract
 Dorsal: nasopharyngeal
tonsil
 Dorsolateral: tubal tonsils
 Lateral: palatine tonsil
 Ventral: lingual tonsil
©Dr.N.Mugunthan

18. Extent:
 From upper border of
epiglottis (C3) to lower
border of cricoid
cartilage (C6)
 At C6 continuous with
oesophagus
©Dr.N.Mugunthan

19. Boundaries:
 Post: C3-C6
 Ant: from above downwards
 Inlet of larynx
 Post.surface of arytenoid
cartilage
 Post.surface of lamina of
cricoid cartilage
 Piriform fossa
©Dr.N.Mugunthan

20.  Piriform fossa
(smuggler’s pouch)
Boundaries:
 Medial: aryepiglottic fold
 Lateral: thyroid cartilage
 Internal laryngeal nerve
ramifies beneath the
mucosa
 Common site where
foreign bodies get stuck
up.
©Dr.N.Mugunthan

21.  Inner to outer:
1. Mucous coat – stratified
squamous epithelium
2. Fibrous coat –
pharyngobasilar fascia
3. Muscle coat – skeletal
muscle (longitudinal &
circular)
4. Buccopharyngeal fascia
©Dr.N.Mugunthan

22.  Muscle coat:
I. Inner longitudinal layer:
1. Stylopharyngeus
2. Salpingopharyngeus
3. Palatopharyngeus
II. Outer circular layer
(constrictor muscles)
1. Superior constrictor
2. Middle constrictor
3. Inferior constrictor
©Dr.N.Mugunthan

23. 1.Stylopharyngeus
 Origin: medial aspect of
styloid process
 Gap between middle and
superior constrictor
 Insertion: post.border
of thyroid cartilage
 Action: elevation of
pharynx
 Nerve supply:
glossopharyngeal nerve
©Dr.N.Mugunthan

24. ©Dr.N.Mugunthan

25. 2.Palatopharyngeus:
 Origin: palatine
aponeurosis
 Insertion: pharyngeal
aponeurosis & post.border of
thyroid cartilage
 Action: elevation of
pharynx
 Nerve supply: cranial part
of accessory nerve thro’
pharyngael plexus
©Dr.N.Mugunthan

26. 3.Salpingopharyngeus:
 Origin: auditory tube
cartilage (near the
pharyngeal opening)
 Insertion: blend with
palatopharyngeus
 Action: elevation of
pharynx
 Nerve supply: cranial
part of accessory nerve
thro’ pharyngael plexus
©Dr.N.Mugunthan

27. Origin:
 Pterygoid hamulus of
medial pterygoid plate
 Pterygomandibular raphe
 Medial surface of mandible
 Side of posterior part of
tongue.
Insertion:
 Median fibrous raphe on
the post.wall of pharynx.
 Upper fibers into
pharyngeal tubercle
(occipital bone)
©Dr.N.Mugunthan

28. ©Dr.N.Mugunthan

29. Origin :
 Lower part of stylohyoid lig.
 Lesser cornu of hyoid bone.
 Upper border of greater
cornu of hyoid bone.
Insertion :
 Median raphe
 Fan shaped fibers
 Upper fibers overlap the lower
fibers of sup.constrictor
 Lower fibers overlapped by
inf.constrictor
©Dr.N.Mugunthan

30. ©Dr.N.Mugunthan

31. 2 parts:
1. Thyropharyngeus
2. Cricopharyngeus.
1.Thyropharyngeus part:
 Origin: oblique line &
inferior cornua of thyroid
cartilage.
2.Cricopharyngeus part
 Origin: cricoid cartilage.
Insertion:
 Both parts inserted into
median raphe.
©Dr.N.Mugunthan

32. ©Dr.N.Mugunthan

33. ©Dr.N.Mugunthan

34. Actions of all 3
constricors:
 Constriction of pharynx
Nerve supply:
 All constrictor muscles
of pharynx supplied by -
cranial part of
accessory nerve
 Inferior constrictor – has
additional nerve supply
from external laryngeal
& recurrent laryngeal
nerve.
©Dr.N.Mugunthan

35. Sinus of Morgagni:
Gap between the base of
skull & upper border of
sup. constrictor
 Closed by upper strong
part of pharyngobasilar
fascia
 Structures passing
through the gap:
Auditory tube , tensor veli
palatini , levator veli
palatini & ascending
palatine artery.
©Dr.N.Mugunthan

36. Gap between superior
constrictor & middle
constrictor
 Stylopharyngeus muscle
 Glossopharyngeal nerve
©Dr.N.Mugunthan

37. Gap between middle
constrictor & inferior
constrictor
 Internal laryngeal nerve
( a branch of superior
laryngeal nerve )
 Superior laryngeal
vessels
©Dr.N.Mugunthan

38. Gap between
inferior constrictor and
oesophagus
 Recurrent laryngeal
nerve.
 Inferior laryngeal
vessels.
©Dr.N.Mugunthan

39. Killian’s dehiscence(pharyngeal
pouch)
 Weak area between
thyropharyngeus &
cricopharyngeus, thro’ pharyngeal
mucosa herniates
 Applied importance:
 Zenker’s diverticulum: due to
neuro muscular incoordination
between thyropharyngeus &
cricopharyngeus
 When thyropharyngeus contracts
cricopharyngeus fails to relax.
 So food bolus is pushed
backwards forms killian’s
diverticulum. ©Dr.N.Mugunthan

40. ©Dr.N.Mugunthan

41. Zenker’s diverticulum –Lateral view Zenker’s diverticulum –AP view
©Dr.N.Mugunthan

42. I. Branches of facial artery
 Ascending palatine artery
 Tonsillar artery
II. Branch of external
carotid artery
 Ascending pharyngeal artery
III. Branch of lingual artery
 Dorsal lingual artery
IV. Branches of maxillary
artery
 Greater palatine artery
 Pharyngeal artery
 Artery of pterygoid canal
©Dr.N.Mugunthan

43.  Pharyngeal venous
plexus
 Drain into internal
jugular vein and facial
vein
©Dr.N.Mugunthan

44.  Pharyngeal plexus of
nerves :
Formed by
(1) pharyngeal branches of
glossopharyngeal nerve
(2) pharyngeal branches of
vagus nerve
(3) Cranial part of
accessory nerve
(4) Pharyngeal branches of
superior cervical
sympathetic ganglion.
©Dr.N.Mugunthan

45. I. Motor supply :
 All muscles of pharynx
supplied by -cranial part of
accessory nerve except
stylopharyngeus.
 Stylopharyngeus -
glossopharyngeal nerve.
©Dr.N.Mugunthan

46. II. Secretomotor
(parasympathetic)
 Pharyngeal branch of
pterygopalatine ganglion.
III. Sensory nerve supply :
 A. General sensory –9th
& 10th cranial nerve.
 B. Taste sensation –
internal laryngeal branch
of vagus.
©Dr.N.Mugunthan

47. a) Retropharyngeal
lymph nodes
b) Parapharyngeal
nodes
 Deep cervical lymph
nodes
©Dr.N.Mugunthan

48.  Acts as a conduct for air
between nose and larynx.
 Ventilates midle ear through
eustachian tube
 Prevents the entry of food
into nasopharynx from
oropharynx
 Acts as a resonating chamber
for voice
 Acts as a drainage channel for
mucus
©Dr.N.Mugunthan

49.  Deglutition (swallowing)
 Stages of deglutition :
1. First stage (oral phase) -
food from mouth to
oropharynx (Voluntary)
2. Second stage (pharyngeal
phase)- food from
oropharynx upto
laryngopharynx.
(Involuntary)
3. Third stage (oesophageal
phase) - food from
laryngopharynx to
oesophagus. (Involuntary) ©Dr.N.Mugunthan

50. ©Dr.N.Mugunthan

51. ©Dr.N.Mugunthan

52. ©Dr.N.Mugunthan

53. ©Dr.N.Mugunthan

54.  Tonsillitis : inflammation
of palatine tonsil
 Quinsy: peritonsillar
abscess
 Adenoiditis :
inflammation of
nasopharyngeal tonsil
 Zenker’s diverticulum :
due to neuromuscular
incoordination of
inf.constrictor
(accumulated food causes
a mucosal pouch in
killian’s dehiscence).©Dr.N.Mugunthan

55.  Tonsillitis : inflammation
of palatine tonsil
 Quinsy: peritonsillar
abscess
 Adenoiditis :
inflammation of
nasopharyngeal tonsil
 Zenker’s diverticulum :
due to neuromuscular
incoordination of
inf.constrictor
(accumulated food causes
a mucosal pouch in
killian’s dehiscence).©Dr.N.Mugunthan

56.  Tonsillitis : inflammation
of palatine tonsil
 Quinsy: peritonsillar
abscess
 Adenoiditis :
inflammation of
nasopharyngeal tonsil
 Zenker’s diverticulum :
due to neuromuscular
incoordination of
inf.constrictor
(accumulated food causes
a mucosal pouch in
killian’s dehiscence).©Dr.N.Mugunthan

57.  Tonsillitis : inflammation
of palatine tonsil
 Quinsy: peritonsillar
abscess
 Adenoiditis :
inflammation of
nasopharyngeal tonsil
 Zenker’s diverticulum :
due to neuromuscular
incoordination of
inf.constrictor
(accumulated food causes
a mucosal pouch in
killian’s dehiscence).
©Dr.N.Mugunthan

58.  Pharyngitis- inflammation
of pharyngeal mucosa -
 Nasopharynx -common site
of carcinoma [Fossa of
Rosen muller ].
 Infection from
nasopharynx can easily
spread into middle ear
through auditory tube.
 Retropharyngeal abscess.
 Smuggler's pouch (
common site of foreign
body stuck up)
©Dr.N.Mugunthan

59.  Pharyngitis- inflammation
of pharyngeal mucosa .
 Nasopharynx -common site
of carcinoma [Fossa of
Rosen muller ].
 Infection from
nasopharynx can easily
spread into middle ear
through auditory tube.
 Retropharyngeal abscess.
 Smuggler's pouch (
common site of foreign
body stuck up)
©Dr.N.Mugunthan

60.  Pharyngitis- inflammation
of pharyngeal mucosa .
 Nasopharynx -common site
of carcinoma [Fossa of
Rosen muller ].
 Infection from
nasopharynx can easily
spread into middle ear
through auditory tube.
 Retropharyngeal abscess.
 Smuggler's pouch (
common site of foreign
body stuck up)
©Dr.N.Mugunthan

61.  Pharyngitis- inflammation
of pharyngeal mucosa .
 Nasopharynx -common site
of carcinoma [Fossa of
Rosen muller ].
 Infection from
nasopharynx can easily
spread into middle ear
through auditory tube.
 Retropharyngeal abscess.
 Smuggler's pouch (
common site of foreign
body stuck up)
©Dr.N.Mugunthan

62.  Pharyngitis- inflammation
of pharyngeal mucosa .
 Nasopharynx -common site
of carcinoma [Fossa of
Rosen muller ].
 Infection from
nasopharynx can easily
spread into middle ear
through auditory tube.
 Retropharyngeal abscess.
 Smuggler's pouch (
common site of foreign
body stuck up)
©Dr.N.Mugunthan

63.  Boundaries of pharynx
 subdivision of Pharynx &
it’s features
 Structure of pharyngeal
wall
 Muscles of pharynx
 Blood supply
 Nerve supply
 Lymphatic drainage
 Applied anatomy
©Dr.N.Mugunthan

64. If any queries click @
dr.mugunth111@gmail.com