Middle Pharyngeal Constrictor (Left) (Musculus constrictor pharyngis medius)
Educational content only — not medical advice.
Anatomy
The middle pharyngeal constrictor is a fan-shaped muscle situated in the mid-region of the pharyngeal wall. Arising from the greater and lesser horns of the hyoid bone and the stylohyoid ligament, its fibers fan outward posteriorly to overlap the superior constrictor above and be overlapped by the inferior constrictor below, inserting into the posterior pharyngeal raphe.
Origin & insertion
From the greater and lesser horns of the hyoid bone and stylohyoid ligament to the posterior median pharyngeal raphe.
Action
Constricts the middle pharynx, propelling the food bolus sequentially downward into the lower pharynx during swallowing.
Innervation
Pharyngeal branch of the vagus nerve (cranial nerve X) via the pharyngeal plexus.
Clinical notes
The interval between the middle and inferior constrictors transmits the internal laryngeal nerve and superior laryngeal artery through the thyrohyoid membrane into the larynx, a critical site for superior laryngeal nerve block.
Related structures
Educational references
FAQ
What is the role of the Middle Pharyngeal Constrictor (Left)?
The middle pharyngeal constrictor is a fan-shaped muscle situated in the mid-region of the pharyngeal wall. Arising from the greater and lesser horns of the hyoid bone and the stylohyoid ligament, its fibers fan outward posteriorly to overlap the superior constrictor above and be overlapped by the inferior constrictor below, inserting into the posterior pharyngeal raphe.
Why is the Middle Pharyngeal Constrictor (Left) clinically important?
The interval between the middle and inferior constrictors transmits the internal laryngeal nerve and superior laryngeal artery through the thyrohyoid membrane into the larynx, a critical site for superior laryngeal nerve block.
Source & license
BodyParts3D, © The Database Center for Life Science licensed under CC Attribution 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). license details