Salpingopharyngeus muscle
The salpingopharyngeus muscle is a muscle of the pharynx. It arises from cartilage around the Eustachian tube, and inserts into the palatopharyngeus muscle by blending with its posterior fasciculus. It raises the pharynx and larynx during deglutition (swallowing) and laterally draws the pharyngeal walls up. It opens the pharyngeal orifice of the Eustachian tube during swallowing allowing for the equalization of pressure between it and the pharynx.
| Salpingopharyngeus muscle | |
|---|---|
 Dissection of the muscles of the palate from behind. | |
| Details | |
| Origin | lower part of the cartilage of the auditory tube |
| Insertion | fibers pass downward and blend with the palatopharyngeus muscle to the upper border thyroid cartilage, blending with constrictor fibers |
| Artery | ascending pharyngeal artery |
| Nerve | vagus nerve (CN X) |
| Actions | assists in elevating pharynx, pulls on torus tubarius to pressure equalize middle ear |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | Musculus salpingopharyngeus |
| TA98 | A05.3.01.115 |
| TA2 | 2191 |
| FMA | 46665 |
| Anatomical terms of muscle | |
Structure
The salpingopharyngeus muscle arises from the superior border of the medial cartilage of the Eustachian tube, in the nasal cavity.[1][2] This makes the posterior welt of the torus tubarius.[1] It passes downward and blends with the posterior fasciculus of the palatopharyngeus muscle.[2]
Nerve supply
The salpingopharyngeus is supplied by the vagus nerve (CN X) via the pharyngeal plexus.[2]
Blood supply
The salpingopharyngeus muscle is supplied by the ascending pharyngeal artery.
Function
The salpingopharyngeus muscle raises the pharynx and larynx during deglutition (swallowing) and laterally draws the pharyngeal walls up.[3] Unusually, it is relaxed during deglutition, but contracts at all other times.[3] It opens the pharyngeal orifice of the Eustachian tube during swallowing allowing for the equalization of pressure between the it and the pharynx.
See also
- Salpinx
Additional images
Torus tubarius dissection show salpingopharyngeus muscle
salpingopharyngeus muscle dissection
References
This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 1143 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)
- Simkins, Cleveland S. (1943). "Functional Anatomy of the Eustachian Tube". Archives of Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery. 38 (5): 476–84. doi:10.1001/archotol.1943.00670040495009.
- McMyn, J. K. (January 1940). "The Anatomy of the Salpingo-Pharyngeus Muscle". The Journal of Laryngology and Otology. 55 (1): 1–22. doi:10.1017/S002221510000517X. ISSN 1748-5460.
- Guindi, G. M.; Charia, K. K. C. (1980-11-01). "A reappraisal of the salpingo-pharyngeus muscle". Archives of oto-rhino-laryngology. 229 (2): 135–141. doi:10.1007/BF00454236. ISSN 1434-4726.
