THE PHARYNX. 



1605 



entire length of the posterior wall of the pharynx, being attached above to the 

 pharyngeal tubercle on the under side of the basilar process. The upper edge of 

 the muscle is concave on either side, not reaching the base of the skull and passing 

 under the Eustachian tube, the vacant space being filled by the pharyngeal aponeu- 

 rosis. The lower fibres pass somewhat downward as well as backward. The pterygo- 

 mandibular ligament separates the superior constrictor from the buccinator, with 

 which it would otherwise be continuous, forming a circle around the alimentary canal. 



FIG. 1361. 



Anterior margin of foramen magnum 



Styloid process 

 Pharyngeal aponeurosls 



urn- Stylo-hyoid ligament 



''< Ml/ttliK 1 



Stylo-glossus 

 Stylo-hyoid 



Deep fibres of superior 

 constrictor 



Palato-pharyngeus 



Great cornu of hyoid bone 



L Stylo-pharyngeus 



_J_Thyroid cartilage 



Pharyngeal aponeurosis 



CEsophagus 



Pharyngeal aponeurosis and longitudinal musculature, seen from behind. 



The middle constrictor (Figs. 1339, 1360) arises from the lower end of the 

 stylo-hyoid ligament, from the lesser horn of the hyoid bone, and from the upper 

 border of the greater horn. The fibres diverge from this narrow origin, the upper 

 reaching the pharyngeal tubercle, the lower going to nearly the lower end of the 

 pharynx, and all meeting their fellows in the median raphe. It conceals a consider- 

 able part of the preceding muscle. 



