Covers the isthmus of the fauces, the narrow opening between the oral cavity and the oropharynx, and its boundaries: the soft palate above, the tongue below and the palatoglossal arches at the sides. It describes the two muscular pillars, the palatoglossus and palatopharyngeus, with their anterior and posterior arches and the palatine tonsil lying between them. The note ends with the isthmus's roles in swallowing, speech and airway protection.
Topic 48 of 236 in the MU Pleven syllabus for Anatomy Bones and Muscles (Medicine, Year 2). The free AceMed note covers it in 2 sections, about 92 words (1 min of reading), with 10 flashcards.
In this note
FAUCES
ISTHMUS
ISTHMUS
The isthmus of the fauces refers to the narrow opening btw. the oral cavity and the oropharynx
Bounded:
Superiorly by the soft palate
laterally by the palatoglossal arches
Inferiorly by the tongue.
They are 2 pillars, formed by the palatoglossus and the palatopharyngeus muscle, covered with mucus membrane.
The anterior pillar is known as the palatoglossal arch, and the posterior one is known as the palatopharyngeal arch
Between these two arches is the palatine tonsil
● Functions:
1. Swallowing & passage of food.
2. Speech and Articulations
3. Protection of the airways.
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