Pharyngeal muscles
Musculi pharyngis
- Latin synonym: Tunica muscularis pharyngis
- Synonym: Muscle layer of pharynx
- Related terms: Pharyngeal muscles; Muscle layer of pharynx
Definition
The pharyngeal muscles are a group of muscles that act upon the pharynx. Pharyngeal muscles contracts pushing the food into the esophagus. They include:
- Inferior constrictor muscle
- Middle constrictor muscle
- Superior constrictor muscle
- Stylopharyngeus muscle
- Salpingopharyngeus muscle
- Palatopharyngeus muscle
They are innervated by the pharyngeal branch of the Vagus nerve (CN X) with the exception of the stylopharyngeus muscle which is innervated by the glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX).
References
This definition incorporates text from the wikipedia website - Wikipedia: The free encyclopedia. (2004, July 22). FL: Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. Retrieved August 10, 2004, from http://www.wikipedia.org
