PHARYNX

MUSCULAR TUBE
CONNECTS THE NASAL CAVITIES TO THE LARYNX
AND OESOPHAGUS.

COMPRISED OF THREE PARTS;

NASOPHARYNX
OROPHARYNX
LARYNGOPHARYNX

OROPHARYNX
BEHIND : ORAL CAVITY
BELOW: NASOPHARYNX
ABOVE: LARYNGOPHARYNX
EXTEND FROM UVULA TO LEVEL OF HYOID BONE

FUNCTION

SERVES BOTH RESPIRATORY AND DIGESTIVE SYSTEMS; PASSAGEWAY FOR AIR, FOOD AND DRINK

STRUCTURE
BASE OF TONGUE
SOFT PALATE
UVULA
2 PALATINE ARCHES

PALATOGLOSSAL ARCH
PALATOPHARYNGEAL ARCH

TONSILS

PALATINE TONSIL
LINGUAL TONSIL

NERVE
GLOSSOPHARYNGEAL NERVE (CN IX)

FOR TASTE SENSATION BASE OF TONGUE, PHARYNX

SUPPLIES THROAT MUSCLES (SWALLOWING)

VAGUS NERVE (CN X)

SENSORY SUPPLY TO ESOPHAGUS, RESPIRATORY TRACT

VESSELS

ARTERIAL SUPPLY
EXTERNAL CAROTID ARTERY BRANCHES INTO:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

SUPERIOR THYROID ARTERY

ASCENDING PHARYNGEAL ARTERY
LINGUAL ARTERY
FACIAL ARTERY
OCCIPITAL ARTERY
POSTERIOR AURICULAR ARTERY
MAXILLAY ARTERY
SUPERFICIAL TEMPORAL ARTERY

VENOUS DRAINAGE
PHARYNGEAL VENOUS PLEXUS ->THE INTERNAL JUGULAR VEIN.

MUSCLE

SUPERIOR PHARYNGEAL CONSTRICTOR

pulls pharyngeal wall forward and constricts pharyngeal

diameter

MIDDLE PHARYNGEAL CONSTRICTOR

INFERIOR PHARYNGEAL CONSTRICTOR

narrows diameter of pharynx facilitating peristaltic movement

of food

CRICOPHARYNGEUS

constricts superior orifice of esophagus

shortening the pharynx

elevates and opens pharynx for opening

SALPINGOPHARYNGEUS
STYLOPHARYNGEUS

SURGERY

IF THE TUMOR IS SMALL, THE SURGEON CAN PERFORM TRANSORAL LASER MICROSURGERY. THE LASER IS ON A SMALL METAL
SCOPE (TUBE). THE PATIENT IS GIVEN ANESTHESIA BEFORE THE SURGERY BEGINS. THE LASER IS INSERTED INTO THE MOUTH AND
THE BEAM FROM THE LASER IS USED TO EXCISE THE TUMOR, AND ONE CENTIMETER (2.5 INCHES) OF TISSUE AROUND IT.
AFTER THE SURGERY, A SMALL NASOGASTRIC FEEDING TUBE (NG TUBE) IS INSERTED THROUGH A NOSTRIL AND INTO THE STOMACH
BECAUSE THE PATIENT CANNOT EAT UNTIL THE SURGICAL AREA HEALS. HEALING TAKES ABOUT TWO WEEKS. DURING THIS TIME, THE
PATIENT WILL RECEIVE LIQUEFIED FOOD THROUGH THE NG TUBE. THE PATIENT CAN GO HOME THREE TO FIVE DAYS AFTER SURGERY
WITH THE NG TUBE IN THE NOSTRIL.

LARGER TUMORS REQUIRE A TRADITIONAL INCISION WITH A SCALPEL. BEFORE THE SURGERY BEGINS THE PATIENT IS GIVEN
ANESTHESIA. THE SURGEON MAKES AN INCISION IN THE NECK, UNDER THE CHIN, TO LOCATE AND REMOVE THE TUMOR. THE OPEN
AREA IS THEN RECONSTRUCTED AND CLOSED WITH A FLAP OF SKIN OR MUSCLES FROM THE ARM OR OTHER PART OF THE BODY.