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