AN36.1-7 | Mouth, Pharynx & Palate — Glossary

Space between the lips/cheeks externally and the teeth/gums internally; the parotid duct opens here opposite the upper 2nd molar

Space bounded by the dental arches, palate above, and floor of mouth (mylohyoid) below, communicating with the oropharynx via the oropharyngeal isthmus

Lymphoid organ in the tonsillar fossa between the palatoglossal and palatopharyngeal folds; most prominent in childhood, involutes after puberty

Depression between the anterior pillar (palatoglossal fold) and posterior pillar (palatopharyngeal fold) housing the palatine tonsil

Collection of pus in the peritonsillar space outside the tonsillar capsule, causing medial tonsil displacement, uvula deviation, and trismus

Three overlapping circular muscles (superior, middle, inferior) forming the pharyngeal wall; all supplied by CN X via the pharyngeal plexus

Only pharyngeal muscle supplied by CN IX (glossopharyngeal); elevates the pharynx during swallowing; enters between superior and middle constrictors

Ring of lymphoid tissue at the pharyngeal entrance comprising pharyngeal (adenoids), tubal, palatine, and lingual tonsils

Pharyngeal tonsil on the posterior wall of the nasopharynx; hypertrophy blocks the Eustachian tube causing otitis media with effusion in children

Zone of muscular weakness between thyropharyngeus and cricopharyngeus parts of the inferior constrictor; site of Zenker's diverticulum herniation

Pulsion diverticulum (mucosa + submucosa only) herniating through Killian's dehiscence; causes dysphagia and regurgitation in elderly patients

Pear-shaped recess on either side of the laryngeal inlet; foreign bodies lodge here; the internal laryngeal nerve lies in its floor

Upper deep cervical lymph node (Level IIA) below the posterior belly of digastric; primary drainage of the palatine tonsil ('tonsillar node')

Vein descending from the soft palate lateral to the tonsil; most common source of post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage

Bony roof of the mouth formed by palatine processes of maxilla and horizontal plates of palatine bones; mucosa firmly bound to bone

Mobile posterior part of the palate containing five muscles; elevates during swallowing to close the nasopharynx (velopharyngeal closure)

Main muscle elevating the soft palate for velopharyngeal closure; supplied by CN X via the pharyngeal plexus

Muscle tensing the soft palate and opening the Eustachian tube; the only palatal muscle supplied by CN V3 (not CN X)

Network of nerve fibres on the middle constrictor formed by CN IX (sensory), CN X (motor), and sympathetic fibres; motor supply to all pharyngeal muscles except stylopharyngeus

Protective reflex mediated by CN IX (afferent from the pharynx) and CN X (efferent to pharyngeal constrictors)

Lower part of the inferior constrictor forming the upper oesophageal sphincter; tonically contracted to prevent reflux