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 contract pushing the food into the esophagus. There are two muscular layers of the pharynx: the outer circular layer and the inner longitudinal layer. The outer circular layer includes:
- Inferior Constrictor of the Pharynx
- Middle Constrictor of the Pharynx
- Superior Constrictor of the Pharynx
During swallowing, these muscles constrict to propel bolus downwards (an involuntary process).
The inner longitudinal layer includes:
- Stylopharyngeus
- Salpingopharyngeus
- Pharyngopalatinus – Palatopharyngeal
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).
