Inferior Pharyngeal Constrictor Muscle, Lateral View

Description

Positioned along the posterolateral wall of the pharynx, the inferior pharyngeal constrictor is seen in lateral profile as it wraps from the posterior median pharyngeal raphe toward its anterior attachments on the laryngeal framework. Superior fibers arise from the oblique line of the thyroid cartilage (thyropharyngeus), while the more caudal band originates from the lateral surface of the cricoid cartilage (cricopharyngeus), forming a muscular collar at the pharyngoesophageal junction. Immediately superior sits the hyoid bone, and anteriorly the muscle relates to the thyroid cartilage and laryngeal inlet, with the cervical vertebrae providing a posterior bony reference in the same field. Bone landmarks anchor the soft tissue. Functionally, this is the segment of the pharyngeal wall that transitions bolus propulsion into esophageal entry, and the cricopharyngeal part corresponds to the upper esophageal sphincter. Dyscoordination or hypertrophy here underlies cricopharyngeal dysfunction and can produce a Zenker diverticulum through Killian dehiscence, a weak area between thyropharyngeus and cricopharyngeus. Surgeons and endoscopists watch this region closely during cricopharyngeal myotomy and during intubation, where resistance at the postcricoid level can signal spasm, fibrosis, or an obstructing web. The nearby recurrent laryngeal nerve and its relationship to the cricothyroid joint also make the lateral anatomy clinically unforgiving. Use this lateral throat illustration for head and neck anatomy teaching in swallowing physiology and otolaryngology modules, and for figure support in dysphagia guidelines, barium swallow reports, and operative notes describing cricopharyngeal bar or myotomy planning. It also fits speech-language pathology coursework when explaining the pharyngeal phase of deglutition and upper esophageal sphincter mechanics. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.