Superior pharyngeal constrictor muscle

Superior pharyngeal constrictor muscle
Muscles of the pharynx and cheek.
Muscles of the pharynx, viewed from behind, together with the associated vessels and nerves.
Latin	musculus constrictor pharyngis superior
Gray's	subject #244 1143
Origin	medial pterygoid plate, pterygomandibular raphé, alveolar process
Insertion	pharyngeal raphe, pharyngeal tubercle
Artery	Ascending pharyngeal artery and tonsillar branch of facial artery
Nerve	Pharyngeal plexus of vagus nerve
Actions	Swallowing

The superior pharyngeal constrictor muscle is a quadrilateral muscle, thinner and paler than the inferior pharyngeal constrictor muscle and middle pharyngeal constrictor muscle.

Origin and insertion

The four parts of this muscle arise from:
- the lower third of the posterior margin of the medial pterygoid plate and its hamulus (Pterygopharyngeal part)
- from the pterygomandibular raphe (Buccopharyngeal part)
- from the alveolar process of the mandible above the posterior end of the mylohyoid line (Myolopharyngeal part)
- and by a few fibers from the side of the tongue (Glossopharyngeal part)

The fibers curve backward to be inserted into the median raphe, being also prolonged by means of an aponeurosis to the pharyngeal spine on the basilar part of the occipital bone.

The superior fibers arch beneath the levator veli palatini muscle and the Eustachian tube.

Relations

The interval between the upper border of the muscle and the base of the skull is closed by the pharyngeal aponeurosis, and is known as the sinus of Morgagni.

Action

As soon as the bolus of food is received in the pharynx, the elevator muscles relax, the pharynx descends, and the constrictors contract upon the bolus, and convey it downward into the esophagus.

Innervation

The superior pharyngeal constrictor muscle is innervated by the pharyngeal branch of the vagus nerve via the pharyngeal plexus.

Additional images

• 

  Occipital bone. Outer surface.

• 

  Mandible. Inner surface. Side view.

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  The internal carotid and vertebral arteries. Right side.

• 

  Dissection of the muscles of the palate from behind.

External links

• 26869838 at GPnotebook
• LUC scon
• lesson8 at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University) (latpharyngealitems3)
• Roche Lexicon - illustrated navigator, at Elsevier 05287.011-1

This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained within it may be outdated.