Skeletal Superstructure

• pg 120 textbook

• temporal bone

• nasal bone

• alveolar process

• maxillary bone

• mandible

• styloid process

• mastoid process

• zygomatic bone

• nasal choana

• vomer

The Pharynx

• extends from base of skull to cricoid cartilage in front and to 6th cervical vertebra in the back

• pharynx is an oval tube, larger side to side than front to back

• connective tissue predominates at the top

• muscle predominates at the bottom

• continues w/esophagus at lower end

• 3 cavities

  • nasopharynx

    • hard palate is lower boundary

  • oropharynx

    • between hard palate and hyoid bone

    • contains palatine tonsils and lingual tonsils

  • laryngopharynx

    • between the hyoid and base of cricoid cartilage

• faucial isthmus

  • narrow opening between velum and the tongue and between anterior faucial pillars

Velum

• velum means “curtain”

• consists of soft palate and uvula

• covered w/connective tissue

• Muscle fibers are most numerous in the middle portion; scarce at the front and back

Nasal Cavities

• also called nasal fossae

• 2 chambers separated by nasal septum

• septum is cartilage at front, bone at back

• floor is hard palate

• lateral walls are made up of conchae

  • conchae - curled and convoluted bone

• nasal vestibule at fornt

• rich blood supply

The Outer Nose

• root

• bridge

• dorsum

• ala

• apex

• anterior naris

• base

• septum

Forces

• passive

  • recoil of muscles, cartilages, and connective tissues

  • surface tension

  • gravity

  • aeromechanical forces

• active

  • muscles of pharynx

  • muscles of velum

  • muscles of outer nose

Muscles of Pharynx

The constrictors

• function: pull pharyngeal walls inward and forward to constrict pharyngeal tube

• Superior constrictor

  • originates at front of pharyngeal tube and inserts into median raphe of posterior pharyngeal wall

• middle constrictor

• inferior constrictor

  • consists of 2 parts

    • thyropharyngeus (upper)

    • cricopharyngeus (lower)

Salpingopharyngeus

• function: pulls lateral pharyngeal walls upward and inward

• origin: near lower border of pharyngeal orifice of auditory tube

• insertion: lateral pharyngeal wall

  

Stylopharyngeus

• Function: pulls up on pharynx and pulls lateral walls outward (widens pharynx)

• Origin: styloid process

• Insertion: lateral pharyngeal wall and thyroid cartilage

Palatopharyngeus

• Function: pulls inward on upper pharyngeal walls and upward on lower lateral pharyngeal walls (with velum fixed)

• Origin: soft palate

• Insertion: lower lateral wall of pharynx and thyroid cartilage

Muscles of the velum

• Palatal Levator (levator veli palatini)

  • function: draws the velum upward and backward

• Palatal tensor (tensor veli palatini)

  • function: opens the auditory tube

• Uvulus

  • function: shorten, lift, increase bulk of velum

  • only intrinsic muscle of the velum

• Glossopalatine

  • function: pulls downward and forward on the velum (with tongue fixed)

  • Origin: side of tongue

  • insertion: lower surface of palatal aponeurosis

• Pharyngopalatine

  • function: pulls downward and backward on velum (with pharynx fixed)

  • origin: lower lateral wall of pharynx and thyroid cartilage

  • insertion: runs through posterior faucial pillar and inserts into soft palate and superior constrictor muscle

Muscles of the Outer Nose

• Levator labii superioris alaeque nasi

  • function: draws the ala upward and enlarges the naris

  • origin: frontal process and infraorbital margin of maxilla

  • insertion: divides with one part inserting into upper lip and the other into cartilage of nasal ala

• Anterior nasal dilator

  • function: enlarges the naris

  • origin: lower edge of lateral nasal cartilage

  • insertion: deep surface of the skin near the outer margin of the naris on the same side

• posterior nasal dilator

  • function: enlarges the naris

  • origin: nasal notch of maxilla and sesamoid cartilages of the outer nose

  • insertion: into the skin near the alar cartilage along outer naris on the same side

• nasalis

  • function: constricts the naris

  • origin: maxilla

  • insertion: aponeurosis

• depressor alae nasi

  • function: draw outer nose down, decrease naris aperture (constricts naris)

  • origin: fossa of maxilla

  • insertion: back part of ala

Movements of Velopharyngeal-nasal apparatus

• movements of pharynx

  • lengthening/shortening by vertical movements of larynx

  • inward/outward movements of lateral pharyngeal walls

  • forward/backward movements of posterior pharyngeal walls

  • forward/backward movements of velum, tongue, and epiglottis

• movements of the velum