Innervation of pharynx
extent
| Section of pharynx | Location | Notable parts |
|---|---|---|
| Nasopharynx | posterior apertures (choanae) of the nasal cavities and above the level of the soft palate | Pharyngeal Tonsils |
| Oropharynx | posterior to the oral cavity inferior to the level of the soft palate superior to the upper margin of the epiglottis |
Valleculae |
| Laryngopharynx | the superior margin of the epiglottis to the top of the esophagus at the level of vertebra CVI | Piriform fossa (to catch all your chicken nuggets, etc.) |
sensory
| Section of pharynx | Sensory nerve supply |
|---|---|
| Nasopharynx | Maxillary nerve (CN V2) |
| Oropharynx | Glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX) |
| Laryngopharynx | Vagus nerve (CN X) |
motor
All from vagus nerve apart from stylopharyngeus (glossopharyngeal nerve)
secretomotor
parasympathetic fibres from pterygopalatine ganglion