Morphologic Characteristics of Palatopharyngeal Muscle

Abstract

In an effort to clarify the morphologic characteristics of the palatopharyngeal muscle, we examined the origin, insertion and positional relationship with other muscles. The origin of the palatopharyngeal muscle was both the oral and nasal sides of the soft palate, being also attached to both the palatal aponeurosis and soft palate median. However, in some cases, the muscle originated on the nasal side. When the palatopharyngeal muscle originated from both the oral and nasal sides, it traveled through its insertion via the levator muscle of the palatine velum. This insertion was seen in a wide area and could be divided into three parts; the pharynx anterior, central and posterior walls. In the central pharyngeal wall, insertion into the pharyngeal aponeurosis, inferior constrictor pharyngeal muscle and esophagus were observed. The present results suggest that the palatopharyngeal muscle has a close positional relationship with the levator and tensor muscles of the palatine velum, the pharyngeal constrictor muscles and the esophagus.

Anatomical Considerations of the Longitudinal Pharyngeal Muscles in Relation to their Function on the Internal Surface of Pharynx

“…The PP originated from either the palatine aponeurosis or the median part of the soft palate, both on the oral and nasal aspects. These findings are consistent with those of Okuda et al [4]. The muscle fibers of the PP that originated from the palatine aponeurosis ran longitudinally downward and formed the lateral wall of the pharynx on the oral aspect.…”

“…The insertion area of the pharyngeal longitudinal muscles is described variously between textbooks as the hypopharynx [11], the constrictors and thyroid cartilage [12], and merging into the constrictors and inserting into the pharyngeal raphe [13]. It has also been reported that the muscle fibers insert into the piriform recess [2,4]. Accordingly, we hypothesized that the pharyngeal longitudinal muscles act as major effectors of clearance of food residue retained in the piriform recess.…”

“…Very detailed and complex movements of pharyngeal muscles occur during serial deglutition. According to a previous study [2][3][4][5][6], the topography of the three longitudinal muscles varies between individuals. However, that study observed only one muscle at a time, and comprehensive observations of their origins and insertion patterns were not provided.…”

Comparação histológica entre as fibras dos músculos palatofaríngeo e constritor superior da faringe em indivíduos com e sem apneia obstrutiva do sono

“…Sériès (2002) Sabe-se que a faringe possui múltiplas funções, além daquela de se manter pérvia durante a respiração (Tsumori et al, 2007;Okuda et al, 2008). Kuna (2000) demonstrou as funções dos músculos faríngeos, como aquela de fechar a VAS durante a deglutição e alterar sua conformação durante a fonação.…”

“…Okuda et al (2008) realizaram um minucioso estudo de dissecção em cadáveres visando descrever a anatomia do músculo palatofaríngeo (MPF).…”