The superior pharyngeal constrictor muscle is a muscle in the

pharynx The pharynx (plural: pharynges) is the part of the throat behind the mouth and nasal cavity, and above the oesophagus and trachea (the tubes going down to the stomach and the lungs). It is found in vertebrates and invertebrates, though its st ...

. It is the highest located muscle of the three

pharyngeal constrictor The pharyngeal muscles are a group of muscles that form the pharynx, which is posterior to the oral cavity, determining the shape of its lumen, and affecting its sound properties as the primary resonating cavity. The pharyngeal muscles (involunta ...

s. The muscle is a quadrilateral muscle, thinner and paler than the

inferior pharyngeal constrictor muscle The inferior pharyngeal constrictor muscle is a skeletal muscle of the neck. It is the thickest of the three outer pharyngeal muscles. It arises from the sides of the cricoid cartilage and the thyroid cartilage. It is supplied by the vagus nerve ...

and

middle pharyngeal constrictor muscle The middle pharyngeal constrictor is a fan-shaped muscle located in the neck. It is one of three pharyngeal constrictors. Similarly to the superior and inferior pharyngeal constrictor muscles, the middle pharyngeal constrictor is innervated by ...

. 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 The pterygoid processes of the sphenoid (from Greek ''pteryx'', ''pterygos'', "wing"), one on either side, descend perpendicularly from the regions where the body and the greater wings of the sphenoid bone unite. Each process consists of a me ...

and its

hamulus A hamus or hamulus is a structure functioning as, or in the form of, hooks or hooklets. Etymology The terms are directly from Latin, in which ''hamus'' means "hook". The plural is ''hami''. ''Hamulus'' is the diminutive – hooklet or little h ...

(Pterygopharyngeal part)
- from the

pterygomandibular raphe The pterygomandibular raphe (pterygomandibular ligament) is a ligamentous band of the buccopharyngeal fascia. It is attached superiorly to the pterygoid hamulus of the medial pterygoid plate, and inferiorly to the posterior end of the mylohyoi ...

(Buccopharyngeal part)
- from the alveolar process of the

mandible In anatomy, the mandible, lower jaw or jawbone is the largest, strongest and lowest bone in the human facial skeleton. It forms the lower jaw and holds the lower teeth in place. The mandible sits beneath the maxilla. It is the only movable bone ...

above the posterior end of the

mylohyoid line The mylohyoid line is a bony ridge on the internal surface of the mandible. It runs posterosuperiorly. It is the site of origin of the mylohyoid muscle, the superior pharyngeal constrictor muscle, and the pterygomandibular raphe. Structure The ...

(Mylopharyngeal part)
- and by a few fibers from the side of the

tongue The tongue is a muscular organ in the mouth of a typical tetrapod. It manipulates food for mastication and swallowing as part of the digestive process, and is the primary organ of taste. The tongue's upper surface (dorsum) is covered by taste ...

(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 The pharyngeal tubercle is a part of the occipital bone of the head and neck. It is located on the lower surface of the basilar part of occipital bone. It is the site of attachment of the pharyngeal raphe. Structure The pharyngeal tubercle i ...

on the basilar part of the occipital bone. The superior fibers arch beneath the

levator veli palatini The levator veli palatini () is the elevator muscle of the soft palate in the human body. It is supplied via the pharyngeal plexus. During swallowing, it contracts, elevating the soft palate to help prevent food from entering the nasopharynx. ...

muscle and the Eustachian tube.

Relations

The interval between the upper border of the muscle and the

base of the skull The base of skull, also known as the cranial base or the cranial floor, is the most inferior area of the skull. It is composed of the endocranium and the lower parts of the calvaria. Structure Structures found at the base of the skull are for ...

is closed by the

pharyngeal aponeurosis As it descends it diminishes in thickness, and is gradually lost. It is strengthened posteriorly by a strong fibrous band, which is attached above to the pharyngeal spine on the under surface of the basilar portion of the occipital bone, and pas ...

, and is known as the sinus of Morgagni. There is an interval between superior pharyngeal constrictor and middle pharyngeal constrictor, this space contains glossopharyngeal nerve, lingual nerve and the stylopharyngeus muscle. McMinn, R., 1994. ''Last's anatomy: Regional and applied (9th ed).''

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 The esophagus ( American English) or oesophagus (British English; both ), non-technically known also as the food pipe or gullet, is an organ in vertebrates through which food passes, aided by peristaltic contractions, from the pharynx to ...

Innervation

The superior pharyngeal constrictor muscle is innervated by the pharyngeal branch of the

vagus nerve The vagus nerve, also known as the tenth cranial nerve, cranial nerve X, or simply CN X, is a cranial nerve that interfaces with the parasympathetic control of the heart, lungs, and digestive tract. It comprises two nerves—the left and righ ...

via the pharyngeal plexus.

Additional images

Image:Gray129.png, Occipital bone seen from outside Image:Gray177.png, Inner surface of the

Mandible In anatomy, the mandible, lower jaw or jawbone is the largest, strongest and lowest bone in the human facial skeleton. It forms the lower jaw and holds the lower teeth in place. The mandible sits beneath the maxilla. It is the only movable bone ...

seen from the side. The insertion of the mylopharyngeal part of the superior pharyngeal constrictor muscle is marked as "sup const". Image:Gray513.png, The

internal carotid The internal carotid artery (Latin: arteria carotis interna) is an artery in the neck which supplies the anterior circulation of the brain. In human anatomy, the internal and external carotids arise from the common carotid arteries, where these ...

and

vertebral arteries The vertebral arteries are major arteries of the neck. Typically, the vertebral arteries originate from the subclavian arteries. Each vessel courses superiorly along each side of the neck, merging within the skull to form the single, midline ...

. Right side. Image:Gray1028.png, Muscles of the palate seen from behind. File:Slide3iiii.JPG, Dissection of the

s File:Slide2kaka.JPG, Deep dissection of the floor of mouth. Anterior view. File:Slide1kuku.JPG, Deep dissection of larynx, pharynx and tongue seen from behind

References

External links

* () * {{Authority control Muscles of the head and neck Pharynx