Velopharyngeal Anatomy

1972 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 372-381 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Ross Dickson ◽  
Wilma Maue Dickson
Keyword(s):  
Eustachian Tube ◽  
Muscle Function ◽  
Broad Area ◽  
Fetal Head ◽  
Constrictor Muscle ◽  
Superior Constrictor ◽  
Velopharyngeal Closure ◽  
Membranous Wall

The velopharyngeal area was studied in seven adult and six fetal heads by gross microscopic dissection, and in one additional fetal head by histologic sectioning and staining. In all cases except one, fibers of the superior constrictor muscle were found to insert into the velum. The salpingopharyngeus muscle was absent bilaterally in six of the 14 heads and was sparse in those heads where it was present. The tensor palatini muscle attached to the lateral membranous wall of the eustachian tube in all cases. The levator palatini muscle always lay lateral to the torus tubarius and inserted into the velum over a broad area extending from the region of the anterior aponeurosis to near the uvula. Speculations regarding muscle function in velopharyngeal closure are presented.

Functional Assessment of the Pharynx at Rest and during Swallowing in Partially Paralyzed Humans 

1997 ◽  
Vol 87 (5) ◽  
pp. 1035-1043 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lars I. Eriksson ◽  
Eva Sundman ◽  
Rolf Olsson ◽  
Lena Nilsson ◽  
Hanne Witt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Function ◽  
Upper Esophageal Sphincter ◽  
Adductor Pollicis ◽  
Sphincter Muscle ◽  
Muscle Coordination ◽  
Bolus Transit ◽  
Constrictor Muscle ◽  
Esophageal Sphincter ◽  
Resting Tone ◽  
Pharyngeal Function

Background Functional characteristics of the pharynx and upper esophagus, including aspiration episodes, were investigated in 14 awake volunteers during various levels of partial neuromuscular block. Pharyngeal function was evaluated using videoradiography and computerized pharyngeal manometry during contrast bolus swallowing. Methods Measurements of pharyngeal constrictor muscle function (contraction amplitude, duration, and slope), upper esophageal sphincter muscle resting tone, muscle coordination, bolus transit time, and aspiration under fluoroscopic control (laryngeal or tracheal penetration) were made before (control measurements) and during a vecuronium-induced partial neuromuscular paralysis, at fixed intervals of mechanical adductor pollicis muscle train-of-four (TOF) fade; that is, at TOF ratios of 0.60, 0.70, 0.80, and after recovery to a TOF ratio > 0.90. Results Six volunteers aspirated (laryngeal penetration) at a TOF ratio < 0.90. None of them aspirated at a TOF ratio > 0.90 or during control recording. Pharyngeal constrictor muscle function was not affected at any level of paralysis. The upper esophageal sphincter resting tone was significantly reduced at TOF ratios of 0.60, 0.70, and 0.80 (P < 0.05). This was associated with reduced muscle coordination and shortened bolus transit time at a TOF ratio of 0.60. Conclusions Vecuronium-induced partial paralysis cause pharyngeal dysfunction and increased risk for aspiration at mechanical adductor pollicis TOF ratios < 0.90. Pharyngeal function is not normalized until an adductor pollicis TOF ratio of > 0.90 is reached. The upper esophageal sphincter muscle is more sensitive to vecuronium than is the pharyngeal constrictor muscle.

An Electromyographic Study of Velopharyngeal Function in Speech

1976 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 225-240 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fredericka Bell-Berti
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Activity ◽  
American English ◽  
Posterior Pharyngeal Wall ◽  
Stop Consonants ◽  
Vowel Quality ◽  
Pharyngeal Wall ◽  
Constrictor Muscle ◽  
The Third ◽  
Velopharyngeal Closure ◽  
Velopharyngeal Function

Electromyographic (EMG) recordings were obtained from the levator palatini, superior pharyngeal constrictor, middle pharyngeal constrictor, palatoglossus, and palatopharyngeus muscles of three talkers of American English. Bipolar hooked-wire electrodes were used. Each subject read nonsense words composed of three vowels (/i, a, u/), six stop consonants (/p, b, t, d, k, g/), and two nasal consonants (/m, n/) to form various stop-nasal and nasal-stop contrasts. Multiple repetitions of each utterance type were recorded and subsequently processed by computer. The levator palatini was found to be the primary muscle of velopharyngeal closure for each of the subjects. The palatopharyngeus also showed consistent oralization activity for each of the subjects, although the activity of this muscle was strongly affected by vowel environment. Two subjects showed pharyngeal constrictor muscle activity related to oral articulation, but pharyngeal constrictor activity for the third subject was related to vowel quality. Nasal articulation was accomplished by suppression of oral articulation for each subject. Vowel quality affected the strength of EMG signals for lateral and posterior pharyngeal wall muscles. In those cases where activity was different for the three vowels, activity was greatest for /a/.

scholarly journals Thorwaldt’s Cyst: Management by Combined Endoscopic Approach and Literature Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Essa Tawfeeq
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Prevalence Rate ◽  
Incidental Finding ◽  
Surgical Excision ◽  
Clinical Suspicion ◽  
Definitive Treatment ◽  
Neck Stiffness ◽  
Constrictor Muscle ◽  
Superior Constrictor ◽  
Pharyngeal Endoderm

Thornwaldt cysts occur in the midline bursa of the nasopharynx above the upper border of the superior constrictor muscle. They represent a communication between notochord remnants and the pharyngeal endoderm. It is usually asymptomatic unless an infection or obstruction occurs, then, a Thornwaldt's cyst might develop. It is relatively uncommon, with a prevalence rate of 0.2% to 4%. Due to its nonspecific symptoms, physician often misdiagnose thornwaldt cyst. It is usually diagnosed as an incidental finding on MRI. Surgical excision is the definitive treatment. This paper describes a case of thornwaldt cyst in a 39 years old gentleman presented with neck stiffness. It also includes a literature review that aids in the clinical suspicion, prevalence, diagnosis, and treatment of thornwald cyst.

An Anatomic Study of the Tensor Veli Palatini and Dilatator Tubae Muscles in Relation to Eustachian Tube and Velar Function

1998 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 101-110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raffi Barsoumian ◽  
David P. Kuehn ◽  
Jerald B. Moon ◽  
John W. Canady
Keyword(s):  
Adipose Tissue ◽  
Connective Tissue ◽  
Eustachian Tube ◽  
Muscle Fibers ◽  
Human Head ◽  
Anatomic Study ◽  
Constrictor Muscle ◽  
Full Color

In a gross anatomic study of 20 sides in 16 human head specimens, the tensor veli palatini, the dilatator tubae, and the tensor tympani muscles were studied. The tensor veli palatini was observed to insert onto the anterior one-third of the pterygoid hamulus, whereas the dilatator tubae rounded the middle one-third of the pterygoid hamulus without an insertion. Thus, the dilatator tubae, not the tensor veli palatini, could serve to tense the anterior velum. An insertion from the superior pharyngeal constrictor muscle onto the posterior one-third of the hamulus could provide a curbing function for the dilatator tubae muscle. Adipose tissue, located at the hamulus, could provide lubrication for the tendinous fibers of the dilatator tubae as they round the hamulus. The dilatator tubae was observed to attach to the hook of the eustachian tube and is accepted as the tubal dilator. Observed on 13 of 20 sides in 11 specimens, the bulk of the dilatator tubae remained distinct from the tensor veli palatini despite a connective tissue alliance and intermingling of some muscle fibers. On 5 of 20 sides in 5 specimens, fibers of the dilatator tubae intermingled extensively with the tensor veli palatini. Of the 20 dilatator tubae muscles dissected, 2 were observed to be deficient. The tensor veli palatini was observed to be continuous with the tensor tympani. Full color versions of the figures are available at the following website: http://www.shc.uiowa.edu/papers/tensor/ .

Velopharyngeal Closure Pattern Exerted by Contraction of the Pharyngeal Constrictor Muscle in Dogs

2000 ◽  
Vol 37 (5) ◽  
pp. 483-487 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susumu Tanaka ◽  
Mikihiko Kogo ◽  
Munehiro Hamaguchi ◽  
Tokuzo Matsuya
Keyword(s):  
Constrictor Muscle ◽  
Velopharyngeal Closure

OC-0060: Contouring of the pharyngeal superior constrictor muscle. A cooperative study of the AIRO Head and Neck Group

2014 ◽  
Vol 111 ◽  
pp. S22-S23
Author(s):  
D. Alterio ◽  
D. Ciardo ◽  
A. Argenone ◽  
O. Caspiani ◽  
R. Micera ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Head And Neck ◽  
Cooperative Study ◽  
Constrictor Muscle ◽  
Superior Constrictor

Velopharyngeal Closure Pattern Exerted by Contraction of the Pharyngeal Constrictor Muscle in Dogs

2000 ◽  
Vol 37 (5) ◽  
pp. 483-487 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susumu Tanaka ◽  
Mikihiko Kogo ◽  
Munehiro Hamaguchi ◽  
Tokuzo Matsuya
Keyword(s):  
Constrictor Muscle ◽  
Velopharyngeal Closure

Comparison of the Anatomy of the Eustachian Tube in the Rhesus Monkey (Macaca Mulatto) and Man

1980 ◽  
Vol 89 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
William J. Doyle ◽  
Stewart R. Rood
Keyword(s):  
Rhesus Monkey ◽  
Eustachian Tube ◽  
Middle Ear ◽  
Anatomical Characteristic ◽  
Tube Function ◽  
Macaca Mulatto ◽  
Tensor Veli Palatini Muscle ◽  
Morphologic Data ◽  
Pterygoid Muscles ◽  
Membranous Wall

The primate nasopharynx-eustachian tube-middle ear complex is being used to model both the normal and pathologic functions of the human eustachian tube by several researchers. An extensive search of the literature has indicated little detailed information on the primate eustachian tube/middle ear system. This study was undertaken to define the anatomical characteristic of the system in the Rhesus monkey ( Macaca mulatto) and to determine the limits on the use of the monkey as a model of human eustachian tube function. Although the direct application of morphologic data to explain the function of a system is tenuous, the data on the Rhesus monkey eustachian tube appears to be consistent with that published for other mammals. The tensor veli palatini muscle appears to be the only muscle to act directly on the tube and effect tubal dilation. The muscle is attached to the lateral membranous tubal wall along its extrabullar extension. The muscle has an inferior attachment to the posterior hard palate and thus possesses a vector directed inferolaterally; contraction would appear to pull the membranous wall inferiorly and laterally, resulting in the tubal dilation. The eustachian tube relationships of the salpingopharyngeus, levator veli palatini, and internal pterygoid muscles are described. Their possible role in primate tubal function is minimal at best.

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