Raymond G Buick FRCS

7 mins

The Upper Respiratory TractThe Upper Respiratory Tract

The PharynxThe Pharynx

The PharynxPosterior to nasal and oral cavities

Extends from the base of the cranium To the inferior border of cricoid cartilage / inferior border of C6

shared with digestive systemnon-keratinised stratified squamous epithelium

The Pharynx3 parts

• naso -• oro -• laryngo -

The PharynxNasopharynx

Has a respiratory functionSeparated from the nasal cavity

by a bony orifice is the choana (Greek – “funnel”)

Above soft palate

The PharynxNasopharynx

LYMPHATIC TISSUE – incomplete tonsillar ring superior part of pharynx

Roof and Posterior Wall of nasopharynxpharyngeal tonsils (adenoids)

The PharynxNasopharynx

opening of pharyngotympanic tubeEustachian tube auditory tube

The PharynxNasopharynx

• Eustachian tube• allows mucus to drain from the ear into the throat• allows pressure equalization • if orifice gets oedematous

– mucus secretion reduced – middle ear infection

CHILDREN - tube is shortermore horizontalsmaller floppier opening

The Pharynx

Eustachian tube

Nasopharynx

• Eustachian tube

salphingopharyngeal foldextends vertically downwardssalpingopharyngeus muscleopens orifice during swallowing(vagus nerve)Tubal tonsil

The Pharynx

Oropharynxfrom soft palate and base of tongue to upper border of epiglottispalatoglossal and palatopharyngeal arches laterally

pallatine tonsils

The Pharynx

Oropharynxpalatoglossal and palatopharyngeal arches

pallatine tonsils lie between these arches

bed is the superior constrictor of the pharynx

The Pharynx

Laryngopharynxhypopharynx• posterior to larynx• from superior border of epiglottis • to inferior border of cricoid cartilage

• middle & inferior pharyngeal constrictor musclesC4 to C6 posteriorly

The Pharynx

muscles• pharyngeal constrictor

– superior– middle – inferior– work together to propel food towards the oesophagus

The Pharynx

musclesinside the pharyngeal constrictor muscles

there are 3 thin strap-like muscles– palatopharyngeus– stylopharyngeus – salpingopharyngeus– they lift up the larynx during swallowing

The Pharynx

blood supply

The Pharynx

Waldeyers ringtonsillar ring

• pharyngeal tonsil• tubal tonsil• pallatine tonsil• lingual tonsil

The Pharynx

The Tonsils• palatine tonsil

• tonsillar artery br. of facial artery– through superior constrictor– enters base of gland

• tonsillar lymphatic vessels– jugulodigastric node– tonsillar node

The EndThe End

Raymond G Buick FRCS