Middle Pharyngeal Constrictor Muscle (Head And Neck, Sagittal Section)

Description

Shown in a sagittal section through the male head and neck, the middle pharyngeal constrictor forms a muscular sheet along the lateral wall of the pharynx, positioned inferior to the superior pharyngeal constrictor and superior to the inferior constrictor. Its broad fibers arise from the greater and lesser horns of the hyoid bone and the stylohyoid ligament, then sweep posteriorly and medially to blend into the pharyngeal raphe on the posterior pharyngeal wall. Anteriorly, the muscle relates to the tongue base and oral cavity, while posteriorly it lies against the prevertebral region and upper cervical spine, with the mandible, dentition, and adjacent masticatory musculature providing osseous context in the same section. Spatial relationships are clear. Functionally, the middle constrictor contributes to the sequential pharyngeal contraction that propels a bolus from the oropharynx toward the esophagus, and this slice makes the hyoid-based origin easy to teach alongside laryngeal elevation during swallowing. Clinically, it matters for dysphagia workups and for understanding iatrogenic injury patterns during lateral pharyngeal surgery, since the pharyngeal plexus and nearby glossopharyngeal nerve course in the region and can be compromised during tonsillectomy or transoral approaches to the oropharynx. The hyoid and stylohyoid ligament anchor points also help explain altered pharyngeal mechanics after hyoid suspension procedures. Use this illustration in head and neck anatomy courses, speech-language pathology teaching on the pharyngeal phase of deglutition, and surgical texts covering transoral or transcervical access to the pharynx and upper airway. It also suits radiology correlation when orienting learners to sagittal CT or MRI landmarks of the suprahyoid and pharyngeal spaces. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.