What is the function of the pharyngeal constrictors?
The posterior wall of the airway is largely comprised of the pharyngeal constrictor muscles which wrap around the airway and so also contribute to the lateral walls. As the name suggests, activation of these muscles constricts the airway, which assists in swallowing.
What is pharyngeal constrictor?
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.
What do the pharyngeal constrictors do during swallowing?
During swallowing, these muscles act to shorten and widen the pharynx. 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).
What is the function of the inferior pharyngeal constrictor?
The function of this muscle is to facilitate food propagation towards the esophagus by constricting the wall of pharynx during deglutition. In addition, the inferior part of this muscle forms the upper esophageal sphincter.
What is the function of the pharyngeal muscles in an earthworm?
Pharynx. Earthworms push the pharynx out of their mouths to grasp hold of organic matter. They pull the food back into their mouths and then wet it with saliva.
What is constrictor muscle?
The superior constrictor muscle originates from the pterygoid process, posterior end of the mylohyoid line of mandible, and the pterygomandibular ligament/raphe. This superior constrictor muscle inserts into the base of the skull at the pharyngeal tubercle and the pharyngeal raphe.
What are the constrictor muscles?
Superior pharyngeal constrictor muscle.
What are the pharyngeal constrictor muscles innervated by?
The pharyngeal muscles receive innervation from the vagus and glossopharyngeal nerve to work in sync to propel food from the oral cavity into the esophagus.
What happens in the pharyngeal phase of swallowing?
Pharyngeal phase The soft palate rises, the hyoid bone and larynx move upward and forward, the vocal folds move to the midline, the epiglottis folds backward to protect the airway, and the tongue pushes backward and downward into the pharynx to propel the bolus downward.
Are the pharyngeal constrictors smooth muscle?
The epiglottis helps seal the entry to the trachea, and the cricopharyngeal portion of the inferior pharyngeal constrictor muscle seals the entry to the esophagus. The esophagus is a combination of striated and smooth muscle. The upper third of the esophagus is skeletal muscle.
What’s the pharynx in an earthworm?
Pharynx: muscular throat pushes food to esophagus between mouth and esophagus. Crop: stores and softens food in earthworm. Esophagus: part of the digestive tract of an earthworm between the pharynx and the crop. Gizzard: grinds up food with sand.
What is the function of the mouth in an earthworm?
A liplike extension over the mouth helps direct food into the mouth, where the muscular pharynx (throat) grabs it, coats it with saliva and pushes it down the esophagus into the crop, where it is stored before moving on to the gizzard.