Superior pharyngeal constrictor muscle

The superior pharyngeal constrictor muscle is a muscle in the pharynx. It is the highest located muscle of the three pharyngeal constrictors. The muscle is a quadrilateral muscle, thinner and paler than the inferior pharyngeal constrictor muscle and middle 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.
Details
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
Identifiers
Latin	Musculus constrictor pharyngis superior
TA	A05.3.01.103
FMA	46621
Anatomical terms of muscle

The muscle is divided into four parts: A pterygopharyngeal, buccopharyngeal, mylopharyngeal and a glossopharyngeal part.

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 (Mylopharyngeal 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 (pharynx)|sinus of Morgagni]. There is an interval between superior pharyngeal constrictor and middle pharyngeal constrictor, this space contains glossopharyngeal nerve and styloglosseus muscle.

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 seen from outside
• 
  Inner surface of the Mandible seen from the side. The insertion of the mylopharyngeal part of the superior pharyngeal constrictor muscle is marked as "sup const".
• 
  The internal carotid and vertebral arteries. Right side.
• 
  Muscles of the palate seen from behind.
• 
  Dissection of the pharyngeal constrictors
• 
  Deep dissection of the floor of mouth. Anterior view.
• 
  Deep dissection of larynx, pharynx and tongue seen from behind

References

This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 1143 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

External links

• lesson8 at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University) (latpharyngealitems3)
• "Anatomy diagram: 05287.011-1". Roche Lexicon - illustrated navigator. Elsevier. Archived from the original on 2013-04-22.