Oropharynx
Updates to Article Attributes
Body
was changed:
The oropharynx forms part of the pharynx, being the continuation of the oral cavity and nasopharynx superiorly, and the larynx and hypopharynx inferiorly. It also forms part of the upper respiratory tract and the gastrointestinal tract.
Gross anatomy
Boundaries
- anteriorly: vertical plane defined by the circumvallate papillae, anterior tonsillar pillars, and border of hard and soft palate
- posteriorly: posterior pharyngeal wall
- superiorly: level of the soft palate free border
- inferiorly: level of the hyoid bone or tip of epiglottis
- laterally: tonsillar fossae and pillars
Contents
The subsites of the oropharyngeal tissues include the following:
- base (posterior third) of tongue
(i.e. posterior third), including(including lingual tonsils) - tonsillar complex (palatine tonsils, tonsillar fossae, and tonsillar pillars)
glossotonsillar sulci-
inferior surface of thesoft palate (inferior surface and uvula) uvulapharyngeal wall (lateral and posterior)
Various spaces are included:
- glossotonsillar sulci (area between base of tongue/lingual tonsils and palatine tonsils)
-
valleculavalleculae (space between the base of tongue and epiglottis) -
posterior pharyngeal walloropharyngeal isthmus (space between the palatoglossal arches)
For staging purposes, the lingual (anterior) surface of the epiglottis is excluded and instead classified as part of the larynx, and the nasopharyngeal (superior) surface of the soft palate is excluded and instead classified as part of the nasopharynx.
Arterial Supply
Related pathology
-</ul><h5>Contents</h5><ul>-<li>base of <a href="/articles/tongue">tongue</a> (i.e. posterior third), including <a href="/articles/lingual-tonsils">lingual tonsils</a>-</li>- +</ul><h5>Contents</h5><p>The subsites of the oropharyngeal tissues include the following:</p><ul>
- +<li>base (posterior third) of <a href="/articles/tongue">tongue</a> (including <a href="/articles/lingual-tonsils">lingual tonsils</a>)</li>
- +<li>tonsillar complex (<a href="/articles/palatine-tonsil">palatine tonsils</a>, tonsillar fossae, and tonsillar pillars)</li>
- +<li>
- +<a href="/articles/soft-palate">soft palate</a> (inferior surface and <a href="/articles/muscle-of-the-uvula">uvula</a>)</li>
- +<li>pharyngeal wall (lateral and posterior)</li>
- +</ul><p>Various spaces are included:</p><ul>
- +<li>
- +<a title="glossotonsillar sulci" href="/articles/glossotonsillar-sulci">glossotonsillar sulci</a> (area between base of tongue/lingual tonsils and palatine tonsils)</li>
- +<li>
- +<a href="/articles/vallecula">valleculae</a> (space between the base of tongue and epiglottis)</li>
-<a href="/articles/palatine-tonsil">palatine tonsils</a>, tonsillar fossae, and tonsillar pillars</li>-<li>glossotonsillar sulci</li>-<li>inferior surface of the <a href="/articles/soft-palate">soft palate</a> </li>-<li><a href="/articles/muscle-of-the-uvula">uvula</a></li>-<li><a href="/articles/vallecula">vallecula</a></li>-<li>posterior pharyngeal wall</li>- +<a title="oropharyngeal isthmus" href="/articles/oropharyngeal-isthmus">oropharyngeal isthmus</a> (space between the palatoglossal arches)</li>
-<a title="Ascending palatine artery" href="/articles/ascending-palatine-artery">ascending palatine branch</a> of the <a href="/articles/facial-artery">facial artery</a>- +<a href="/articles/ascending-palatine-artery">ascending palatine branch</a> of the <a href="/articles/facial-artery">facial artery</a>
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