Middle Pharyngeal Constrictor (Chondropharyngeal Part)
Pharynx · Head & Neck
The chondropharyngeal part is the smaller, upper portion of the middle pharyngeal constrictor. It arises from the lesser horn of the hyoid bone and the neighbouring stylohyoid ligament, then fans out backward to insert into the median pharyngeal raphe. Together with the ceratopharyngeal part it narrows the pharynx during swallowing, propelling the bolus toward the oesophagus in coordination with the superior and inferior constrictors. It is supplied by the vagus nerve (CN X) through the pharyngeal plexus. The middle constrictor overlaps the superior constrictor externally and is itself overlapped by the inferior constrictor, contributing to the shingled wall of the pharynx.
Origin, Insertion, Action & Nerve
Origin
Lesser horn of the hyoid bone and stylohyoid ligament
Insertion
Median pharyngeal raphe
Action
Constricts the pharynx to propel the bolus during swallowing
Nerve
Vagus nerve (CN X) via the pharyngeal plexus
Attachments explained
The Middle Pharyngeal Constrictor (Chondropharyngeal Part) is defined first by where it attaches. Its origin is the more fixed anchor, usually the proximal or more stable end that stays put during contraction, while its insertion is the more mobile point that is pulled toward the origin when the muscle shortens.
Origin
Lesser horn of the hyoid bone and stylohyoid ligament
Insertion
Median pharyngeal raphe
Action & function
When the Middle Pharyngeal Constrictor (Chondropharyngeal Part) contracts, it produces the following movement: Constricts the pharynx to propel the bolus during swallowing.
As part of the Pharynx group of the Head & Neck, it works alongside neighbouring muscles to generate smooth, coordinated movement and to stabilise the structures it acts on.
Nerve supply & clinical relevance
The Middle Pharyngeal Constrictor (Chondropharyngeal Part) receives its nerve supply from the Vagus nerve (CN X) via the pharyngeal plexus.
Because a muscle can only contract when its nerve is intact, injury to the Vagus nerve can weaken or paralyse the Middle Pharyngeal Constrictor (Chondropharyngeal Part), impairing the movements it normally produces (constricts the pharynx to propel the bolus during swallowing). This is why knowing the innervation is central to localising nerve lesions in clinical practice.
How to study the Middle Pharyngeal Constrictor (Chondropharyngeal Part) (the OIANS method)
Study the chondropharyngeal part by its origin, which is the clue in its name: chondro points to the cartilaginous lesser horn of the hyoid and the stylohyoid ligament attached there. Pair it with the ceratopharyngeal part on the greater horn, and you can hold the whole middle constrictor as one fan spreading from the hyoid back to the median raphe.
Place it in the overlapping sequence of constrictors to keep its role clear: the middle constrictor sits outside the superior and inside the inferior. Since all three feed the same median raphe and share the pharyngeal plexus, remembering the shingle pattern lets you reconstruct its bolus-propelling action and vagal supply without separate memorisation.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Middle Pharyngeal Constrictor (Chondropharyngeal Part) located?
The Middle Pharyngeal Constrictor (Chondropharyngeal Part) is a muscle of the Pharynx group, located in the Head & Neck.
What is the origin of the Middle Pharyngeal Constrictor (Chondropharyngeal Part)?
Lesser horn of the hyoid bone and stylohyoid ligament
What is the insertion of the Middle Pharyngeal Constrictor (Chondropharyngeal Part)?
Median pharyngeal raphe
What movements does the Middle Pharyngeal Constrictor (Chondropharyngeal Part) produce?
Constricts the pharynx to propel the bolus during swallowing
What nerve supplies the Middle Pharyngeal Constrictor (Chondropharyngeal Part)?
Vagus nerve (CN X) via the pharyngeal plexus
Is the Middle Pharyngeal Constrictor (Chondropharyngeal Part) free to study in OIANS?
The Middle Pharyngeal Constrictor (Chondropharyngeal Part) is always free to browse. Its full origin, insertion, action and nerve details are open to everyone in the Muscle Directory. Quiz and Flashcard practice for the Head & Neck is part of the one-time Lifetime upgrade, though; only the Upper Limb decks are free to test yourself on.
Related muscles
Study the Middle Pharyngeal Constrictor (Chondropharyngeal Part)
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