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Branchial motor
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Visceral sensory
General sensory| Cranial Nerve X - Vagus | Page 7 of 24 |
Pharyngeal Nerve
The pharyngeal nerve is the principle motor nerve of the pharynx.
It branches from the vagus nerve just below the inferior ganglion and travels inferiorly and medially to pass between the internal and external carotid arteries. The nerve enters the middle constrictor muscle of the pharynx where it spreads out to form the pharyngeal plexus to innervate all muscles of the pharynx and soft palate (except the stylopharyngeus and tensor veli palatini muscles which are innervated by CNs IX and V, respectively).
The muscles innervate by the pharyngeal nerve include:
- Superior, middle, and inferior constrictor muscles
- Levator palatini muscle
- Salpingopharyngeus muscle
- Palatopharyngeus muscle
- Palatoglossus muscle of the tongue
