Structure/Morphology
The pharyngeal aponeurosis is a semicircular ring of dense connective tissue located posterior to the thyroid cartilage, between the mucosal and muscular layers of the pharynx (Netter, 2011).
The pharyngeal aponeurosis is not to be confused with the pharyngobasilar fascia, which is sometimes referred to as the same name.
Related parts of the anatomy
Anatomical Relations
The pharyngeal aponeurosis is located at the inferior margin of the inferior pharyngeal constrictor muscle and acts as the insertion for palatopharyngeus muscle (Okuda et al., 2008).
Function
The pharyngeal aponeurosis acts as an anchoring insertion for the palatopharyngeus muscle, allowing it to pull the pharynx superiorly during swallowing.
References
Netter, F. H. (2011) Atlas of Human Anatomy. Netter Basic Science Series: Saunders/Elsevier.
Okuda, S., Abe, S., Kim, H. J., Agematsu, H., Mitarashi, S., Tamatsu, Y. and Ide, Y. (2008) 'Morphologic characteristics of palatopharyngeal muscle', Dysphagia, 23(3), pp. 258-66.
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Pharyngobasilar Fascia
1 The tonsillar capsule is a specialized portion of the pharyngobasilar fascia that covers the surface of the tonsil and extends into it to form septa that conduct the nerves and vessels.
