---
title: "Drainage of Pharynx"
description: "A guide to the Drainage of Pharynx for medical students and ENT residents."
source: "The ENT Resident"
author: "Dr. Mausumi Das"
canonical_url: "https://www.theentresident.com/ent-notes-lectures/drainage-of-pharynx"
categories: ["Pharynx"]
video: "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARAzu8R0ZxI"
image: "https://media.theentresident.com/og-images/drainage-of-pharynx.png"
---

# Drainage of Pharynx

A guide to the Drainage of Pharynx for medical students and ENT residents. Watch the full video lecture on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARAzu8R0ZxI

## 🩸 Drainage of the Pharynx - Blood Supply, Lymphatic Drainage, Nerve Supply

### 🩺 Blood Supply of the Pharynx

The pharynx has a rich arterial supply, primarily from branches of the **external carotid artery**.

**🩸 ARTERIAL SUPPLY**

Five major arteries contribute to the blood supply:

- **Ascending pharyngeal artery** (branch of medial external carotid artery)  
  - Supplies the superior part of the pharynx, soft palate, internal pharynx, and Eustachian tube.
- **Tonsillar artery** (branch of facial artery)
- **Ascending palatine branch** (branch of facial artery)
- **Superior laryngeal artery** (branch of superior thyroid artery)
- **Inferior laryngeal artery** (branch of inferior thyroid artery, from thyrocervical trunk of the subclavian artery)

**💉 VENOUS DRAINAGE**
- Drained by **internal submucosal** and **external pharyngeal venous plexus**.
- These plexuses are located predominantly on the **posterior aspect of the middle constrictor muscle**.
- They drain into:
  - **Internal jugular vein**
  - **Pterygoid venous plexus** (via connections)

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### 🧬 Lymphatic Drainage of the Pharynx

The lymphatic drainage of the pharynx is **complex and rich**, making metastatic spread common in pharyngeal malignancies.


**1️⃣ Nasopharynx**

Drains into:
- **Retropharyngeal lymph nodes** (first station; includes the important Node of Rouvière)
- **Deep cervical lymph nodes** (Level II most commonly involved)

>What is the % of involvement of different nodes in nasopharyngeal carcinoma?

**2️⃣ Oropharynx**

- Lymphatic vessels pierce the **superior constrictor muscle**.
- Drain into:
  - **Deep cervical lymph nodes**
  - Especially the **Jugulodigastric (Tonsillar) Node**
  - Also drains to **Levels II and III** (though isolated lower drainage is rare).

**3️⃣ Hypopharynx (Laryngopharynx)**

Drains into:
- **Level II, III, and IV deep cervical nodes**
- **Level III** is most commonly involved.

---

### 🧠 Nerve Supply of the Pharynx

The motor and sensory innervation of the pharynx is mainly through the **pharyngeal plexus**.


**🔗 PHARYNGEAL PLEXUS FORMATION**

Formed by communications between:
- **Pharyngeal branches of the Vagus nerve (CN X)**
- **Pharyngeal branches of the Glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX)**
- **Sympathetic fibers from the Superior Cervical Ganglion**

These nerves run on the **posterolateral surface of the pharynx** and supply deeper pharyngeal layers.

**⚙️ MOTOR SUPPLY**

- Motor fibers originate from the **cranial root of the Accessory nerve**, carried by the **vagus nerve**.

- **Supplies:**
  - All pharyngeal muscles (**except the stylopharyngeus**)
  - **Stylopharyngeus** is supplied by the **glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX)**.
  - **Cricothyroid muscle** (of larynx) is supplied by the **external and recurrent laryngeal nerves**.

**🧏 SENSORY SUPPLY**

- **Oropharynx:** Glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX)

- **Laryngopharynx:** Internal laryngeal nerve (branch of Superior laryngeal nerve, Vagus CN X)

- **Nasopharynx:** Maxillary nerve (V2) via the Pterygopalatine ganglion

- **Palate:** Greater and Lesser Palatine nerves (branches of Pterygopalatine ganglion)

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## About This Note

This free ENT note on Drainage of Pharynx was written by Dr. Mausumi Das and is paired with a corresponding video lecture.

Canonical page of this note: https://www.theentresident.com/ent-notes-lectures/drainage-of-pharynx

When citing or referencing this content, please credit The ENT Resident and link to the canonical page above.

## Related Notes by Category

- Pharynx: https://www.theentresident.com/ent-notes-lectures/category/pharynx.md

## About The ENT Resident

The ENT Resident is an educational website and resource library created by Dr. Mausumi Das (MS ENT) for ENT residents, ENT postgraduates preparing for exams, and MBBS students.

Dr. Mausumi Das writes the notes, draws the diagrams, and records the lectures herself.

Browse all ENT notes and lectures on The ENT Resident: https://www.theentresident.com/ent-notes-lectures.md

## Medical-use Boundary

The ENT Resident provides educational material for medical learning and revision. It does not provide patient-specific medical advice, diagnosis, or emergency care, and it is not a substitute for evaluation by a qualified healthcare professional.

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