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The pharyngeal plexus is a nerve plexus located upon the outer surface of the pharynx. It contains a motor component (derived from the vagus nerve (cranial nerve X)), a sensory component (derived from the glossopharyngeal nerve (cranial nerve IX)), and sympathetic component (derived from the superior cervical ganglion). [1]
The pharyngeal branch of the vagus nerve is the principal motor nerve of the pharynx. It represents the motor component of the pharyngeal plexus of vagus nerve and ultimately provides motor innervation to most of the muscles of the soft palate (all but the tensor veli palatini muscle ), and of the pharynx (all but the stylopharyngeus muscle ).
The external branch functions to stretch the vocal cords by activating the cricothyroid muscle, increasing pitch. The external laryngeal nerve gives branches to pharyngeal plexus and the superior portion of the inferior pharyngeal constrictor, and communicates with the superior cardiac nerve behind the common carotid artery.
The laryngopharynx includes three major sites: the pyriform sinus, postcricoid area, and the posterior pharyngeal wall. Like the oropharynx above it, the laryngopharynx serves as a passageway for food and air and is lined with a stratified squamous epithelium. It is innervated by the pharyngeal plexus and by the recurrent laryngeal nerve.
The pharyngeal branches of the glossopharyngeal nerve are three or four filaments which unite, opposite the constrictor pharyngis medius, with the pharyngeal branches of the vagus and sympathetic, to form the pharyngeal plexus. Branches from this plexus perforate the muscular coat of the pharynx and supply its muscles and mucous membrane.
The somatic motor fibers that innervate the laryngeal muscles, and pharyngeal muscles are located in the nucleus ambiguus and emerge from the medulla in the cranial root of the accessory nerve. Fibers cross over to and join the vagus nerve in the jugular foramen .
The pharyngeal plexus (venous) is a network of veins beginning in the pharyngeal (nerve) plexus on the outer surface of the pharynx, and, after receiving some posterior meningeal veins and the vein of the pterygoid canal, end in the internal jugular.
Pharyngeal plexus can refer to: Pharyngeal plexus of vagus nerve – a network of pharyngeal nerves; Pharyngeal plexus (venous) – a network of pharyngeal veins