| pharyngeal isthmus | Communicating space between nasopharynx and oropharynx, sealed off by elevation of the soft palate and contraction of portions of the superior pharyngeal constrictor (palatopharyngal sphincter) during swallowing. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| pharyngeal membranes | Thin sheets, composed of ectoderm externally and endoderm internally, which separate the pharyngeal pouches from the overlying branchial clefts in the early embryo. Synonym: pharyngeal membranes. (05 Mar 2000) |
| pharyngeal mucosa | The mucous coat of the pharynx. Synonym: tunica mucosa pharyngis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| pharyngeal muscles | The muscles of the pharynx are the inferior, middle and superior constrictors, salpingopharyngeus, and stylopharyngeus. (12 Dec 1998) |
| pharyngeal opening of auditory tube | An opening in the upper part of the nasopharynx about 1.2 cm behind the posterior extremity of the inferior concha on each side. Synonym: ostium pharyngeum tubae auditivae, pharyngeal opening of eustachian tube. (05 Mar 2000) |
| pharyngeal opening of eustachian tube | An opening in the upper part of the nasopharynx about 1.2 cm behind the posterior extremity of the inferior concha on each side. Synonym: ostium pharyngeum tubae auditivae, pharyngeal opening of eustachian tube. (05 Mar 2000) |
| pharyngeal pituitary | The embryonic remnant of the oral end of Rathke's pouch that is cut off from the adenohypophysis by the developing sphenoid bone; composed chiefly of chromophobes and, under normal conditions, considered physiologically inactive. See: hypophysis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| pharyngeal plexus | The plexus of nerves including branches of the glossopharyngeal, vagus, and accessory nerves (cranial root), that lies along the posterior wall of the pharynx, a venous plexus on the posteriolateral walls of the pharynx, emptying through the pharyngeal veins into the internal jugular. Synonym: plexus pharyngeus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| pharyngeal pouch syndrome | diGeorge syndrome |
| pharyngeal raphe | The central line of the pharynx posteriorly where the muscular fibres meet and partly interlace. Synonym: raphe pharyngis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| pharyngeal recess | A slitlike depression in the membranous (non-muscular) pharyngeal wall extending posterior to the opening of the auditory (eustachian) tube. Synonym: recessus pharyngeus, recessus infundibuliformis, Rosenmuller's fossa, Rosenmuller's recess. (05 Mar 2000) |
| pharyngeal reflex | The act of swallowing (second stage) induced by stimulation of the palate, fauces, or posterior pharyngeal wall. Synonym: deglutition reflex, pharyngeal reflex. (05 Mar 2000) |
| pharyngeal ridge | A constant band of the superior pharyngeal constrictor muscle which sweeps posteriorly from the anterolateral part of the superior surface of the palatine aponeurosis. It creates a visible ridge when the superior constrictor is contracted, meeting the elevated soft palate to seal off the pharyngeal isthmus during swallowing. Synonym: pharyngeal ridge, sphincter of the pharyngeal isthmus, velopharyngeal sphincter. (05 Mar 2000) |
| pharyngeal space | The area occupied by the pharynx (naso-, oro-, and laryngopharnynx). Not to be confused with the retropharyngeal space. (05 Mar 2000) |
| pharyngeal tonsil | A collection of more or less closely aggregated lymphoid nodules on the posterior wall and roof of the nasopharynx, the hypertrophy of which constitutes the morbid condition called adenoids. Synonym: tonsilla pharyngealis, tonsilla adenoidea, Luschka's gland, Luschka's tonsil, third tonsil. (05 Mar 2000) |