The palatopharyngeus muscle is one of the skeletal muscles in humans. It is located in the throat. Its function is to regulate the act of swallowing.
What is the palatopharyngeus muscle?
The pharyngeal muscles are formed by various skeletal muscles. Among them is the palatopharyngeus muscle. It is a long pharyngeal muscle and is considered the most powerful pharyngeal elevator in the human organism. Its path goes around the palate backward to the pharynx. From there, it descends laterally. All pharyngeal muscles are located between the oral cavity and the pharynx. The function of the palatopharyngeus muscle is to raise the base of the tongue during the act of swallowing. The act of swallowing is complex and occurs through voluntary as well as automatic processes. The initial process is consciously prepared and regulated. As food moves further into the back of the throat, voluntary control changes to the swallowing reflex. To execute this, the base of the tongue lifts. This pushes ingested substances into the esophagus and transports them downward.
Anatomy and structure
The course of the palatopharyngeus muscle begins at the soft palate. The layer of connective tissue there is called the aponeurosis and forms the beginning of the muscle. The palatopharyngeus muscle is divided by two other muscles. These are the levator veli palatini muscle and the uvulae muscle. After division, it consists of two bundles called fascicles. The anterior fiber bundle runs between the levator veli palatini muscle and the tensor veli palatini muscle. The other part of the muscle forms the posterior fiber bundle and traces its path directly under the mucosa in the pharynx. Both fiber bundles meet the stylopharyngeus muscle behind the palatine tonsil. They then innervate the thyroid cartilage, a cartilage level of the larynx. Some other muscle fibers continue along the lateral walls of the pharynx and terminate there. The palatopharyngeus muscle is innervated by the pharyngeal plexus. This is the nerve plexus of the pharynx. The pharyngeal plexus is supplied primarily by nerve fibers of the IXth and Xth cranial nerves. Cranial nerve. These are the glossopharyngeal nerve and the vagus nerve.
Function and tasks
Several muscles belong to the pharyngeal musculature. During the act of swallowing, three muscles work closely together. These are the stylopharyngeus muscle, the salpingopharyngeus muscle, and the palatopharyngeus muscle. Together, they ensure that the pharynx can be lifted. Based on its external shape, the stylopharyngeal muscle is the stylopharyngeus muscle. It elevates and dilates the pharynx. The tubopharyngeal muscle is the salpingopharyngeus muscle. By contracting its muscle fibers, it raises the pharynx and larynx. In addition, it tenses the mucosal bulge of the pharyngeal wall. This is the plica salpingopharyngea. Through it, the epiglottis becomes a closure on the trachea. Thus, it allows free passage from the mouth to the stomach. The palatopharyngeal muscle is the palatopharyngeus muscle. As soon as it tightens, the base of the tongue is lifted. Additionally, when swallowing, it causes the oropharynx to close and the palate to lower. The buccal meatus is the isthmus faucium. Each of the muscles supports the act of swallowing. This is initiated voluntarily and then transitions into the swallowing reflex. It is important that all the muscles work together to ensure a smooth process. Even though they have different tasks, the interaction is essential to prevent ingested liquids, food or saliva from entering the trachea. Their task is to ensure that the path from the pharynx to the stomach is clear during the very complex swallowing process. The top priority during the act of swallowing is always to close off the trachea. If food enters the trachea, respiratory distress, lack of air and the risk of choking will result.
Diseases
Diseases of the pharynx include inflammatory diseases, spasm formation, or paralysis during the act of swallowing. In all, the functional activity of the palatopharyngeus muscle is affected or results in total failure. When there is inflammation in the pharynx due to, for example, a purulent inflammation such as angina, swallowing difficulties develop. A pharyngeal spasm is called pharyngismus. It is painful. During the act of swallowing, all the muscles in the throat involved in the process lock up. Paralysis of swallowing occurs when there is damage to the glossopharyngeal nerve. When the IX.cranial nerve fails due to paralysis, it can no longer innervate the muscles in the throat. The paralysis then continues into the pharynx. Impairment of the functional activity of the palatopharyngeus muscle takes place during the formation of a carcinoma. Once a malignant tumor forms in the pharynx or pharynx, the functional activity of the pharyngeal muscles is affected and impaired. Infectious diseases include a childhood disease that has a strong impact on the pharyngeal muscles. Notifiable diphtheria is an acute disease that is also highly contagious. Symptoms of the disease include infection of the upper respiratory tract. Any nerves, muscles or skin regions located there are affected. The pathogens of the disease secrete a toxin that, beyond affecting the throat muscles, can lead to a life-threatening condition. The muscles of the pharynx have an important role in diseases such as sleep apnea. In this condition, breathing stops for a period of time. This may be for a few or several seconds. The disruption of breathing causes the muscles in the throat to become slack. Because the patient is not conscious during these moments, sleep apnea can cause suffocation.
