| Superior pharyngeal constrictor muscle | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Muscles of the pharynx, viewed from behind, together with the associated vessels and nerves. | |
| 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.