Superior pharyngeal constrictor muscle | |
---|---|
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 |
TA98 | A05.3.01.103 |
TA2 | 2179 |
FMA | 46621 |
Anatomical terms of muscle |
The superior pharyngeal constrictor muscle is a quadrilateral muscle of the pharynx. It is the uppermost and thinnest of the three pharyngeal constrictors.[citation needed]
The muscle is divided into four parts according to its four distincts origins: a pterygopharyngeal, buccopharyngeal, mylopharyngeal, and a glossopharyngeal part. The muscle inserts onto the pharyngeal raphe, and pharyngeal spine. It is innervated by pharyngeal branch of the vagus nerve via the pharyngeal plexus. It acts to convey a bolus down towards the esophagus, facilitating swallowing.