SalpingopharyngeusВ вЂ“В arises from the Eustachian tube, inserts into the pharynx.PalatopharyngeusВ вЂ“В arises from hard palate of the oral cavity, inserts into the pharynx.Unlike the other pharyngeal muscles, it is innervated by the glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX).StylopharyngeusВ вЂ“ arises from the styloid process of the temporal bone, inserts into the pharynx.They act to shorten and widen the pharynx, and elevate the larynx during swallowing. The longitudinal musclesВ are the stylopharyngeus, palatopharyngeus and salpingopharyngeus. Inferior component (cricopharyngeus) has horizontal fibres that attach to the cricoid cartilage.ДЄll pharyngeal constrictors are innervated by the vagus nerve Longitudinal.Superior component (thyropharyngeus) has oblique fibres that attach to the thyroid cartilage.Inferior pharyngeal constrictorВ вЂ“В located in the laryngopharynx.Inserts posteriorly into the pharyngeal raphe.Originates from the stylohyoid ligament and the horns of the hyoid bone.Middle pharyngeal constrictorВ вЂ“ locatedВ in the laryngopharynx.Inserts posteriorly into to the pharyngeal tubercle of the occiput and theВ median pharyngeal raphe.Originates from the pterygomandibular ligament, alveolar process of mandible and medial pterygoid plate and pterygoid hamulus of the sphenoid bone.Superior pharyngeal constrictorВ вЂ“В the uppermost pharyngeal constrictor.The circular muscles contract sequentiallyВ from superior to inferior to constrict the lumen and propel the bolus of food inferiorly into the oesophagus. They are stacked like glasses, which form an incomplete muscular circle as they attachВ anteriorly to structures in the neck. There are three circular pharyngeal constrictor muscles the superior, middle and inferior pharyngeal constrictors.

The muscles of the pharynx are mostly innervated by the vagus nerveВ вЂ“ the only exception being theВ stylopharyngeus (glossopharyngeal nerve). There are two main groups of pharyngeal muscles В longitudinal and circular. The laryngopharynx contains the middle and inferior pharyngeal constrictors.

It is found posterior to the larynx and communicates with it via the laryngeal inlet, lateral to which one can find the piriform fossae. It is continuous inferiorly with theВ oesophagus. The most distal part of the pharynx, the laryngopharynxВ is located between the superior border of the epiglottis and inferior border of the cricoid cartilage (C6). The oropharynx is involved in the voluntary and involuntary phases of swallowing. WaldeyerвЂ™s ringВ is the ring of lymphoid tissue in the naso- and oropharynx formed by the paired palatine tonsils, the adenoid tonsils and lingual tonsil.

Palatine tonsils вЂ“ lymphoid tissue located in the tonsillar fossa (between the palatoglossal and palatopharyngeal arches of theВ oral cavity).

Lingual tonsils вЂ“ lymphoid tissue at the base of the tongue.

The oropharynxВ is the middle part of the pharynx, located between the soft palate and the superior border of the epiglottis. The posterosuperior nasopharynx contains the adenoid tonsils, which enlarge between 3-8 years of age and then regress. This part of the pharynx is lined with respiratory epithelium ciliated pseudostratified columnar epithelium with goblet cells. It is continuous withВ the nasal cavity, and performs a respiratory function by conditioning inspired air and propagating it into the larynx. The nasopharynxВ is found between the base of the skull and the soft palate. The pharynx is comprised of three parts (superior to inferior): It begins at the base of the skull, and ends at the inferior border of the cricoid cartilageВ (C6). The pharynxВ is a muscular tube that connects the oral and nasal cavity to theВ larynxВ andВ oesophagus.

Pharyngeal constrictor muscles