Superior pharyngeal constrictor muscle

Superior pharyngeal constrictor muscle
Muscles of the pharynx and cheek.
Muscles of the pharynx, viewed from behind, together with the associated vessels and nerves.
Details
OriginMedial pterygoid plate, pterygomandibular raphé, alveolar process
InsertionPharyngeal raphe, pharyngeal tubercle
ArteryAscending pharyngeal artery and tonsillar branch of facial artery
NervePharyngeal plexus of vagus nerve
ActionsSwallowing
Identifiers
Latinmusculus constrictor pharyngis superior
TA98A05.3.01.103
TA22179
FMA46621
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.