420 SPLANCHNOLOGY, OR ANATOMY OF THE VISCERA 



and the basilar process of the occipital bone. The raphe of 

 the constrictor muscles is attached to the pharyngeal tubercle 

 of the basilar process of the occipital bone. It is bounded above 

 by the body of the sphenoid and basilar process of the occipital ; 

 below, it is continuous with the esophagus; anteriorly, it is 

 incomplete, and is attached to the Eustachian tube, the internal 

 pterygoid plate, the pterygomandibular ligament, the posterior 

 portion of the mylohyoid ridge, the mucous membrane of the 

 mouth, the base of the tongue, the hyoid bone, the thyroid 

 and cricoid cartilages; posteriorly, the prevertebral fascia, 

 and the areolar tissue connects it to the cervical portion of 

 the vertebral column, anterior to the longus colli and rectus 

 capitis anticus muscles, areolar tissue is contained in the 

 retropharyngeal space; laterally, it is connected to the styloid 

 process and its muscles. The internal jugular veins; the internal 

 and common carotid, the ascending pharyngeal arteries, and 

 the glossopharyngeal, the vagus, hypoglossal, and sympathetic 

 nerves, lie externally above, with a small portion of the internal 

 pterygoid muscles. The constrictor muscles surround it and 

 aid in deglutition. It is 4| inches long, and for purposes of 

 studying, divided into a nasal, oral, and laryngeal portion. 



The nasal part, or nasopharynx, lies posterior to the nares 

 and above the soft palate. In front are the posterior navs 

 (choanee); behind, the pharyngeal tonsil, consisting of lymphoid 

 tissue, seen above the orifices of the Eustachian tubes in the 

 median line. Below the vault of the pharynx is an irregular 

 flask-shape depression of the mucous membrane, called the 

 pharyngeal bursa, a possible vestige of the pharyngeal tonsil. 

 The floor of the nasopharynx is continuous with the nasal 

 fossae, anteriorly, and behind is the sloping portion of the soft 

 palate. On its lateral wall is the orifice of the Eustachian 

 tube, level with the inferior turbinated bone and one-third to 

 one-half inch posterior to its dorsal extremity. Behind the 

 Eustachian tube is the Eustachian cushion, caused by the 

 inner extremity of the cartilage of the tube, which elevates 

 the mucous membrane. Extending from the lower portion of 

 the cushion is the salpingopharyngeal fold, and from the upper 

 part passes the salpingopalatine fold. The deep recess behind 

 the cushion is called the fossa of Rosenmiiller (recessus 

 pharyngeus). 



The oral part, or oralis pharyngis, extends from the soft 



